Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Audax => Topic started by: border-rider on 25 July, 2009, 07:50:18 pm
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PBP showed us just how brilliant our forum (in its previous guise) could be at virtual support for our online friends and acquaintances. The "Progress" thread was a highly addictive magnet for us who were supporting from a distance, and I suspect a useful source of reading/reference matter for the riders when they got back and read it for themselves.
We don't have the online rider tracking that PBP had, but many riders are electing to tweet their progress
LEL on Twitter (http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=20011.0)
If you want to follow them thataway (and it's already showing activity) then register to use Twitter and search for #lel. It's dead easy.
If you want to contribute, all you need to do is to tweet with #lel anywhere in the message. You can do this by sending a text from your mobile if you set up your twitter account to receive texts. Again, easier than it sounds.
If you don't want to open a Twitter account, just follow the tweets here:
london-edinburgh-london - FriendFeed (http://friendfeed.com/london-edinburgh-london)
(thanks to nic)
If anyone wants to post progress bulletins or news on this forum, as Chris suggests, here's a thread for it.
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simonp's got another way of doing it:
Gps tracking (http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=21892.0)
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simonp's got another way of doing it:
Gps tracking (http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=21892.0)
I'm just getting a map of California, but I assume that's just the default location until the SPOT device is turned on. Either that, or he's really lost. ;D
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simonp's got another way of doing it:
Gps tracking (http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=21892.0)
I'm just getting a map of California, but I assume that's just the default location until the SPOT device is turned on. Either that, or he's really lost. ;D
I thought the same! I get a dialog box pop-up saying "No messages to display". Bloody good idea tho.
Lots of #LEL test tweets on twitter :D
It's going to be like following the progress of the Tour!
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If you want to follow them thataway (and it's already showing activity) then register to use Twitter and search for #lel. It's dead easy.
Odd, I have a Twitter account, but when I search for #lel, I get loads of people that are nothing to do with #lel.
I can't find #lel.
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Odd, I have a Twitter account, but when I search for #lel, I get loads of people that are nothing to do with #lel.
I can't find #lel.
Are you typing #lel into the search field, and not the "Find People" page?
This (http://twitter.com/#search?q=%23lel) should do a search on #lel (if you're logged in), and I'm getting lots of Tweets which are quite clearly by LEL participants.
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I'm really quite nervous for them now having read the latest bunch of tweets!
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Are you typing #lel into the search field, and not the "Find People" page?
This (http://twitter.com/#search?q=%23lel) should do a search on #lel (if you're logged in), and I'm getting lots of Tweets which are quite clearly by LEL participants.
Thanks Tim, I was typing #lel into the Find People page and getting nowhere. Typing it into the search field has worked.
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You can also look at the event stats that the controllers are sharing at London Edinburgh London communications centre (http://www.danialwebb.com/lel.html)
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Paul D and I are at the Travelodge. Fairly decent night sleep - we're starting at 9am so there's no need to rush. We'll be riding over to the start in about an hour- hopefully in time to see John Spooner off. Bikes are ready, drop bags sorted. I'll be twittering on the way round: @cnarborough.
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This (http://twitter.com/#search?q=%23lel) should do a search on #lel (if you're logged in)
And this (http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23lel) should work even if you're not logged in.
Tal.
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All this technical assistance is highly appreciated!
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Reports of cake-eating at Gamlingay, and a tailwind :)
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All this technical assistance is highly appreciated!
+1.
First time I've used twitter and inadvertently posted a message, doh!
Can you delete messages? I've deleted it from my account but it's still showing in the search results. Once a tweet always a tweet?
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Greetings from Coxwold!
We don't open until 20:40 which is just as well as it's raining :(
Everyone is happy and excited about LEL :thumbsup:
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The 12:40 communications centre report is at London Edinburgh London communications centre (http://www.danialwebb.com/lel.html)
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Interesting comment there about rider 666 clearing Thurlby - having started 2 hours early
That's Damon...
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Have just seen loads of riders pass through Elton - no yacfers, but one there was one chap on a rowing recumbent.
A few of them looked incredibly tired considering how much further to go - but it is quite windy.
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the 15:00 comms report is ready at London Edinburgh London communications centre (http://www.danialwebb.com/lel.html)
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First DNF
10 Italians cleared Washingborough. Quite fast, then...
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Picasa Web Albums - sc.fixie - LEL2009 (http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/sc.fixie/LEL2009#)
posted to the AUK email list by Werner Wiethege
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Last bunch of starters left just before 16.00 having reconstituted bike to replace one stolen in Cheshunt. (Audax Catalans)
Greek rider wrote off frame riding into back of car at 18km (no major injury)
All quiet here now.
Approx 80 DNS
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The 19:10 comms centre report, complete with DNS list, is now available. See above for link.
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Blimey
12 of them cleared Thorne by 18:00. That's, um, quite fast.
Loads of DNSs.
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Updste from Coxwold. About to open. Expecting first riders around 22:00. Amazing!
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The 21:40 control report is now available at London Edinburgh London communications centre (http://www.danialwebb.com/lel.html)
Chris, could you ask the control at Coxwold to send update to the comms centre when they have news?
Cheers!
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List of DNS not entirely accurate as Melita revised rider numbers.
Rob is riding
351 crashed, not DNS (Same Greek chap though)
Melita is on road northbound and will give Danial photocopy of start list.
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Got back from Gamblingay an hour ago (been helping out with the food). At 7pm Chris (my Dad, number 204) was at Lincoln, 130 miles.
544 no longer riding but can't remember why.
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Just got back home from Washingborough.Over 400 riders had passed through .The first being Bob Johnson followed by 4 Italians,followed by Rearly ancien 666.These riders came though in less than 7 hrs. :caught me by surprise.Have seen forest Rich Greenbank,Gerald,everyone from the morning start seemed OK.The afternoon riders not so lucky with the weather the tail wind as decreased,and the rain increased !Was very busy at this control but managed to to avoid delays.Drove home along course to see wave after wave of small groups riding through the rain.Bright lights piercing the gloomy Lincoln shire countryside ,amazing. ;D Will return to the control wednesday
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351 crashed, not DNS (Same Greek chap though)
:'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
Hope the rider is ok.
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Hi all
The Greek rider is fine, as is the motorist.
The 00:40 report is now online. Same page as before.
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Thanks Daniel. (The nosey bugger in me just wants to ask more questions following that post).
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Assistant acting deputy vice tea-monitor Mr L reporting from after the Tour, the Hungarian GP1, the British Moto GP and a Several of glugs of Orztrylian grape juice.
Anyhap, it appears that one of the Italian chaps did a big ride in May, viz. the Giro D'Italia. With this in mind it might seem prudent to have someone on alert at the time the first rider clears Gamlingay southbound, in case a finish controller bloke with a pen is needed at Stupid O'Clock on Tuesday morning. Since:
- I have the whole week off, and
- live but ten of the BRITONS' miles from the Arrivée
if there's a possibilty of a jet-propelled twin-turbo domestique clearing Gamlingay before Tuesday civilised-breakfast-time, it might be a good idea to Let Me Know. Problem is, I've got no phone numbers for anyone. So if anyone is in touch with someone who might be in touch with Gamlingay, and the aforementioned state of affairs comes to pass, could they give me a bell on 07717473507?
Otherwise we'll have a nice lie-in and will start setting up shop at Sensible O'Clock on Tuesday.
Ta.
P.S. Hummers says he's often misunderstood in here.
Yes, mate.
P.P.S. Three bikes stolen avant le départ. One recovered; one replaced by machine borrowed from Mark "Megastar" Brooking; one hastily purchased, fettled in the car park and fitted with pedals borrowed from Mark "Even More Mega Than That" Brooking. The start is clearly too close to Edm*nt*n.
P.P.P.S. Apart from the Cataloonies, the final riders off the line were a long-haired Scouser and Recumbent Bloke Who Turned Up At The Start In The Wrong Shoes. Frantic Police-Camera-Action-stylee transport of shoes from Bromley to Cheshunt ensues.
1 - GWS, Felipe
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We have over a hundred people at Thorne. Same at Washingborough. Very few people are riding through the night.
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We have over a hundred people at Thorne. Same at Washingborough. Very few people are riding through the night.
Good news. People using the time cushion from the head wind sensibly. Lots of days on the road to come yet...
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The latest report is available at London Edinburgh London communications centre (http://www.danialwebb.com/lel.html).
The weather here is much clamer and drier. Greenbank just walked past looking refreshed after a kip and a shower.
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351 crashed, not DNS (Same Greek chap though)
:'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
Hope the rider is ok.
A bit bruised, basically fine.
His medic wife forbade further cycling.
Frame trashed.
AIUI chap did not see car ahead braking as eyes were on GPS...
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I plan to stay here at Lee Valley for the duration.
I haz phobile contact list for all controls.
Interwebs have been dodgy but have passale connection right now.
Will attempt to keep people posted.
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P.P.S. Three bikes stolen avant le départ. One recovered; one replaced by machine borrowed from Mark "Megastar" Brooking; one hastily purchased, fettled in the car park and fitted with pedals borrowed from Mark "Even More Mega Than That" Brooking. The start is clearly too close to Edm*nt*n.
Aw fer crying out loud. What use do local yoof have for Audax stylee bikes?
I'm glad I took the North Carolina mates to a bike shop to get small locks for use at controls,
and we got another US cousin to move his fully laden bike from directly outside the pub door,
where it was locked to itself.
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time cushion from headwind? Shurely headwinds deplete your time cushion in the whole 'slowing you down a bit' way?
(edit: whoops, have just noticed that I'm on the DNS list. I am *fairly* sure that I never got as far as entering proper-like, just paid the deposit & then all the Australia stuff happened. I assumed that not paying the rest would automatically remove me from the list :-[ )
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Update from Coxwold control (411km Northbound, 1021km Southbound).
Very busy morning - some large batches of riders coming through at times, but steadier now.
Lots of YACF faces - no sign of Simonp though as I left for lunch at midday which is concern.
Some tired faces - one or two YACFers who need The Feeling of Lurrv from YACFland as they are looking a bit jaded. Hummers was trying to ingraciate himself with The Boss by applying some sort of massage.
Clearly many have encountered significant weather - there have been some excellent paper mache creations that used to be Brevet cards.
The sun is out now after some earlier showers. More of a crosswind today.
Bon Courage les YACF :thumbsup:
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The latest report from the controls is at London Edinburgh London communications centre (http://www.danialwebb.com/lel.html)
The first rider arrived at Dalkeith about thirty minutes ago.
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Past a whole load of riders in the car yesterday on the way from Lincoln back to Kettering. I picked up the LEL route from Thurlby and drove it as far as Elton. It was great to see so many of them!
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time cushion from headwind? Shurely headwinds deplete your time cushion in the whole 'slowing you down a bit' way?
(edit: whoops, have just noticed that I'm on the DNS list. I am *fairly* sure that I never got as far as entering proper-like, just paid the deposit & then all the Australia stuff happened. I assumed that not paying the rest would automatically remove me from the list :-[ )
I'm also on it despite only ever paying the deposit and having my withdrawal acknowledged by Mel last December. I suspect everyone who paid the deposit is still on it which is why it seems so big.
Nik
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From Hummers:
Greetings! Am still alive. Was at Thorne at 4 (321k), Coxwold at 9 (411k) which is not bad seeing we are spending an hour at controls. Last 52k was slow but hey, we have until 10pm to do the 160k over the Pennines to get to our kit - assuming it is there.
H
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time cushion from headwind? Shurely headwinds deplete your time cushion in the whole 'slowing you down a bit' way?
(edit: whoops, have just noticed that I'm on the DNS list. I am *fairly* sure that I never got as far as entering proper-like, just paid the deposit & then all the Australia stuff happened. I assumed that not paying the rest would automatically remove me from the list :-[ )
I'm probably in the same boat then. I entered and paid the deposit too. Where can I find the DNS list?
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Here http://www.danialwebb.com/lel/Monday1230.pdf (http://www.danialwebb.com/lel/Monday1230.pdf)
Has someone really arived at Dalkeith?
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time cushion from headwind? Shurely headwinds deplete your time cushion in the whole 'slowing you down a bit' way?
(edit: whoops, have just noticed that I'm on the DNS list. I am *fairly* sure that I never got as far as entering proper-like, just paid the deposit & then all the Australia stuff happened. I assumed that not paying the rest would automatically remove me from the list :-[ )
I'm probably in the same boat then. I entered and paid the deposit too. Where can I find the DNS list?
Yes you're on there. You'll find it by going to the London Edinburgh London communications centre and scrolling down.
Nik
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The first rider arrived at Dalkeith about thirty minutes ago.
Yikes, isn't that something in excess of 15mph average (assuming an 8am departure). :o
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time cushion from headwind? Shurely headwinds deplete your time cushion in the whole 'slowing you down a bit' way?
(edit: whoops, have just noticed that I'm on the DNS list. I am *fairly* sure that I never got as far as entering proper-like, just paid the deposit & then all the Australia stuff happened. I assumed that not paying the rest would automatically remove me from the list :-[ )
I'm probably in the same boat then. I entered and paid the deposit too. Where can I find the DNS list?
Yes you're on there. You'll find it by going to the London Edinburgh London communications centre and scrolling down.
Nik
Can you post the link, as I can't see the DNS list.
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I posted a link to the pdf of the state of play at 12.30.
DNS list is towards end of document.
Dalkeith control opened officially at 07.40.
Audax maximum speed is 30kph...
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The first rider arrived at Dalkeith about thirty minutes ago.
Yikes, isn't that something in excess of 15mph average (assuming an 8am departure). :o
I suspect it's the Italian pro and his mates, who find 30 km/h a bit, er, pedestrian...
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The first rider arrived at Dalkeith about thirty minutes ago.
Yikes, isn't that something in excess of 15mph average (assuming an 8am departure). :o
I suspect it's the Italian pro and his mates, who find 30 km/h a bit, er, pedestrian...
Actually this speed is way below 30kph as the control had been open 5 hours by the time the rider arrived.
Timing seems almost identical to last LEL, when fasted rider arrived at Dalkeith at 13.04 on the Monday.
Expect return to Lee Valley between 2200 and midnight tomorrow. (Fastest rider arrived 23.09 Tuesday last time...)
Is Howard Waller riding this year?
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Is Howard Waller riding this year?
He rode the Mersey 24 - see quote from Tricycle Association website
"I have been advised, by the man himself, that Howard Waller (Oxford City RC) retired after 365 miles (19 hrs 48 mins) due to lack of feeling in his hands and feet. This was caused by the cold, wet conditions during the morning. Bad luck Howard, after 234 miles in the first 12 hours it was looking good."
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The first rider arrived at Dalkeith about thirty minutes ago.
Yikes, isn't that something in excess of 15mph average (assuming an 8am departure). :o
I suspect it's the Italian pro and his mates, who find 30 km/h a bit, er, pedestrian...
He must be out for a stroll then, as he's averaging around 25km/h.
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I'll see y'all at Alston, 7pm :-)
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According to his Twitter Richforrest has packed.
Twitter (http://twitter.com/Richforrest)
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That's bad luck, Rich.
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Toothgrauncher should be making his way to Gamlingay. He was marshalling on the 24hr, then afterwards falling asleep at the HQ. He'll have done a respectable mileage by the time he's finished not riding both the 24 and LEL.
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According to his Twitter Richforrest has packed.
Twitter (http://twitter.com/Richforrest)
Doubtless we'll get the full story soon enough but it seems from twitter than it was wet and his shorts rubbed in the wrong way
It's the kind of little problem that can easily happen...too bad..:(
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Poor Rich!
Wet friction can destroy skin very fast.
A snug non-slip fit in the dry can make for shredded meat in the wet...
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A disappointing result. I've had short pain in the past, but usually a spare pair in a pannier to change into which resolves things immediately. (Not that I've been silly enough to try a ride of that distance.)
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Mrs Hummers here:
Just had a text to say that Hummers is at Alston.
On schedule, but the climb into a headwind over Yad Moss has taken it out of them (I am assuming he is still with Postie).
Hope you did not mind me posting
Mrs H
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Toothgrauncher should be making his way to Gamlingay. He was marshalling on the 24hr, then afterwards falling asleep at the HQ. He'll have done a respectable mileage by the time he's finished not riding both the 24 and LEL.
So he's going for the full set? Rode 'em last time and not riding this time.
I hope he doesn't get a DNF this time - ultimate humiliation!
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Doubtless we'll get the full story soon enough but it seems from twitter than it was wet and his shorts rubbed in the wrong way
It's the kind of little problem that can easily happen...too bad..:(
BTDTGTTS. Put my leg-warmers under my shorts instad of over them on the first night of PBP. Fail.
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The first rider left Eskdalemuir, heading south, at 17:00. There is a trickle of riders as far back as Alston heading north, then the flow thickens.
Full reportat London Edinburgh London communications centre (http://www.danialwebb.com/lel.html)
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I see ten riders have now been to Dalkeith That's going some!
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I notice Rob Bullyment is on the DNS list. Did he enter twice or something ;D
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I notice Rob Bullyment is on the DNS list. Did he enter twice or something ;D
No.
I think there's been a transcription error.
The list of non-starters included no 120.
This has become 122, Rob Bullyment. I pointed this out upthread.
I think errors like this will be corrected when Danial gets Melita's hard-copy list.
I know not where Melita is.
I daren't phone her but sent a supportive SMS earlier.
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Will Rich be coming back to Lee Valley?
Does anyone know when?
Can he contact me on 07817
two two two 791
I'm at LV for the duration.
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I think errors like this will be corrected when Danial gets Melita's hard-copy list.
I wonder whether the DNS list includes everyone who sent in an entry way back when, even if they later withdrew and never paid the full entry fee. (Something very like but not quite) My name appears as a DNS even though I withdrew ages ago.) ???
Not really important though; I dare say everyone involved has more on their mind than minor admin hiccups.
Good luck to all the riders.
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Rich doesn't seem to be having he best of luck on the longer ridesthis year what with one thing and another.
And sorry to see Manotea on the DNF list as well [I'm assuming there is only one Paul Stewart!]
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Just back from a 19-hour shift at Middleton Tyas.
Saw a few of our lot there, but JBB and I were too busy to mark people off. Saw Chris N a couple of hours ago, looking pretty fresh (I assume it was Chris N, cos he was wearing a black yacf top and someone called him Chris N*****).
Saw Hummers and John Spooner a lot earlier - I was a little starstruck when I registered rider 001, and said something like "Wow! You're John Spooner!". Couldn't even stop for a piss when they were in, it was that busy, so I didn't have chance to introduce myself. We were about an hour behind with feeding people.
Ah, I've realised I saw (and fed) arallsop at about the same time as Chris N was in. He disguises his identity too cunningly for me. He seemed pretty fresh, especially considering the backstory!
Chatted to an Aussie bloke riding fixed who I think may have been Sandy V's husband. Top bloke, either way.
Andy C could have been the first Brit through the control - he was the first Brit to arrive, but he faffed about in the entry, and a lad from Willesden Wheelers got in ahead of him. That was about 5.45 am. He was flying. MSeries and Warburton arrived about three quarters of an hour later, looking remarkably fresh for people who'd ridden 470 miles in 21 hours without sleep. They even beat Bob to the control, which was a first for MSeries.
I had a great time - there was an amazing wealth of cycling experience at the control, and smashing company. I wish I didn't have to go back to work :(
It was amazing, and a bit sad, that apart from Peter Ralph and I, everyone at the control had come from miles away. Chapeau to them for answering the call.
Photos to follow...
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Well done Deano, give yourself a firm pat on the back. And the same goes to all the helpers of course.
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The team at Thorne have been awesome. By the time we closed the control, it had been scrubbed clean, all the bedding and towels laundered, and the next food shop collected and stored.
My team of eight have to look after ten riders between now and dawn.
I'm going to bed until tomorrow. zzz
(PS - I'll try and look at the start list tomorrow. it doesn't appear to tally with the DNS list I was given, alas. Or, indeed, the brevet cards.)
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I'm afraid this is the result of last minute changes in the rider numbers.
Very confusing.and my mobile number, which is upthread.
I have one copy of the start sheet.
Unfortunately I have nothing else; I'd quite like to contact DNFs and offer sympathy and practical assistance.
If anyone does see a poor lost soul, please pass on my warm wishes and the mobile number I posted upthread.
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Had a couple of DNFs at Middleton Tyas - a couple on a tandem who were unable to maintain their balance, and were surprisingly cheerful about the whole thing. A couple of Italians who lacked the English to give sufficient reason, but they looked knackered. A Scot who was taken out by an, erm, well-built foreign lady and whose hip ached too much for him to carry on. A couple of others, and one who looked like she was ready to quit. I sent her onto Alston, where hopefully they can persuade her to push on to Eskdalemuir, then Dalkeith...
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...and one who looked like she was ready to quit. I sent her onto Alston, where hopefully they can persuade her to push on to Eskdalemuir, then Dalkeith...
You're doing your job. It can be a tough call between using a little necessary persuasion and allowing that someone's really had enough.
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I suspect this lady is the lady who shared a room with me at LV...
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I think it was a combination of tiredness and self-doubt. I really hope she finishes.
Photos still coming...
And on a happier note, I saw a lad in an orange yacf shirt happily chowing down at about 5 pm. No idea who he was. And JJB assured me that LadyVet had been through and was looking good.
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There again, I have walked into a control half-dead, giving concern to controllers, but half an hour later, with food and copious tea seemed fresh and fine for the road...
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Chatted to an Aussie bloke riding fixed who I think may have been Sandy V's husband. Top bloke, either way.
Martin is a tall, thin bloke riding gears. http://mypict.me/show.php?id=e7eM (http://mypict.me/show.php?id=e7eM)
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Chatted to an Aussie bloke riding fixed who I think may have been Sandy V's husband. Top bloke, either way.
Martin is a tall, thin bloke riding gears. http://mypict.me/show.php?id=e7eM (http://mypict.me/show.php?id=e7eM)
Apologies to all. That weren't 'im. Shorter, more flesh on him, with a suspiciously English accent although wearing a top with "Australia" emblazoned upon it, and riding a fixed wheel bike with a US flag and a PBP tag on it. Piccies shortly.
Edit: here he is, however blurry. The chap bloke in yellow, centre shot:
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2445/3763499050_8978f279d7.jpg)
A couple of other Aussies passed through earlier, who ate an astonishing amount of food. One very tall and thin with a beard, the other shorter and thin, with a ponytail. Irrepressibly cheerful the pair of them :)
Actually, all the riders showed remarkable patience. Despite our having problems with getting the food out, and the reported chaos at registration, there was a general sense of happiness. I loved the atmosphere.
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Apologies to all. That weren't 'im. Shorter, more flesh on him, with a suspiciously English accent although wearing a top with "Australia" emblazoned upon it, and riding a fixed wheel bike with a US flag and a PBP tag on it. Piccies shortly.
A couple of other Aussies passed through earlier, who ate an astonishing amount of food. One very tall and thin with a beard, the other shorter and thin, with a ponytail. Irrepressibly cheerful the pair of them :)
Sounds like the fixed wheeler could be John Evans. Find out what happens when you ask him to tinkle on a piano...
Irrepressibly cheerful and eating an astonishing amount of food might well describe Nick Dale from WA. http://mypict.me/show.php?id=e7L6 (http://mypict.me/show.php?id=e7L6)
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Sounds like the fixed wheeler could be John Evans.
It is definitely him in the photo.
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Sounds like the fixed wheeler could be John Evans.
It is definitely him in the photo.
Cheers. Always good to put names to faces :)
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Greets from Coxwold - early O'Clock!
Everyone through who was going to by 18:00 yesterday. Chance to "freshen" the Control - it was looking a bit used - esp the loos :sick:.
Sadly, Manotea and RichForrest packed here. They will tell their story no doubt - but they were in reasonable spirits when I last saw them.
One chap arrived hardly knowing where he was. He took some gentle TLC to put him back together again - but by the time he left, he looked Up for It again. Amazing how people can bounce back like that. I think the temptation heading North on Sunday had been to fly along with the wind and just stick at it, and run out of energy in the process. This pattern was repeated with several others - they arrived with 7 hours to spare after 400km, but they were all in.
Very cold here this morning - which won't help those used to warmer climes.
Expecting our first southbound this morning.
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Find out what happens when you ask him to tinkle on a piano...
Possibly phrased slightly differently, to avoid an unpleasant misunderstanding. :o
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Morning readers. The latest report from the communications centre is at http://www.danialwebb.com/hrtml
Here at Thorne, we have a few volunteers enjoying the sunshine, reading books, chatting and waiting for riders to come through. All is well.
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Lee Valley is sunny, almost cloudless now at 0750.
Expect first rider at around 2200 given his progress and return times of previous LELer (first in arrived 23.09 Tuesday).
Shame my interwebs are so flaky here inn outer Londonton.
Think I'll call the Larrington sometime today; he's only a few miles away and I'm sure he'd like to greet a few riders.
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Morning readers. The latest report from the communications centre is at http://www.danialwebb.com/html
Here at Thorne, we have a few volunteers enjoying the sunshine, reading books, chatting and waiting for riders to come through. All is well.
Stray r in your linky (which I edited out when quoting) so no worky.
Fine on your main page.
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News from the Hummers:
Good morning. Got to Eskdalemuir at 7:15, 633k.this morning with a very pleasant ride. Apparently, last night this place was grim - 2hrs wait for floor space! We did the right thing. Off to Dalkeith.
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Thirlby reports much CAKE which Gerry is having defend from marauding 'helpers'...
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My Dad (chris, number 204) was on the border last night but was finding it hard going, apparently the weather up there isn't too good. :-\
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Find out what happens when you ask him to tinkle on a piano...
Possibly phrased slightly differently, to avoid an unpleasant misunderstanding. :o
Where is the fun in that? ;)
For the latecomers up the back of the hall, Mr Evans played keyboard a few years ago.
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All ok here, short problems started at Washingborough.
Rubbing legs raw so at Coxwold I'd had enough, and didn't fancy another 1000km of it.
Rode down to York and on to Wetherby where I got cider, shower and food at my brothers ;D :thumbsup:
Walking a bit like John Wayne today but all's well.
470km in total, longest ride this year. happy with that and feel goog.
Will come down to LV on Friday too get bags.
Good luck to all the riders left on the road.
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Well done, Rich. Hard to do, but I think you made the sensible decision in the circumstances. Rough luck, but glad to hear you're OK.
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All ok here, short problems started at Washingborough.
Rubbing legs raw so at Coxwold I'd had enough, and didn't fancy another 1000km of it.
Rode down to York and on to Wetherby where I got cider, shower and food at my brothers ;D :thumbsup:
Walking a bit like John Wayne today but all's well.
470km in total, longest ride this year. happy with that and feel goog.
Will come down to LV on Friday too get bags.
Good luck to all the riders left on the road.
Nice to hear you are well cared.
LV staff would not allow bags to stay in locker room so they've been moved to another roomm, which is locked.
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Think I'll call the Larrington sometime today; he's only a few miles away and I'm sure he'd like to greet a few riders.
Save your phone bill - I'll be heading out to LV as soon as I've had me coffee ;D
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Hummers again:
Traquir - 678k in and have just had a tot of Whisky.
Glorious. H
::-)
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Sorry to read our YACF Ecosse chum peekay packed at Dalkeith this morning. He's normally very strong - any news of why?
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Sorry but pulled out yesterday (rider 490 - sent DNF message with other rider). Constant ickness (:sick:) in the early hours meant that by daylight incessant shivering and total loss of energy had me beat. Every long (300+) ride I do seems to involve stomach problems, sometimes minor sometimes debilitating(?). Thought it was fizzy drinks, but none this time. (Oh and the Blackberry did not like the rain either).
Good luck to you all
Craig
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Think I'll call the Larrington sometime today; he's only a few miles away and I'm sure he'd like to greet a few riders.
Save your phone bill - I'll be heading out to LV as soon as I've had me coffee ;D
I'm in Broxbourne Lodge, as before.
Door is open.
Interwebs are interesting.
750 kB took 90 minutes yesterday...
see ya!
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My Dad (chris, number 204) phoned a minute ago, he's at Traquair and feeling OK, looking forward to the turn around point. :)
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word in from Hummers, he and Postie are at Dalkeith...
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word in from Hummers, he and Postie are at Dalkeith...
Excellent! I hope he doesn't get over-excited at the prospect of men in kilts.
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The 13:00 report is now online at London Edinburgh London communications centre (http://www.danialwebb.com/lel.html)
The first few riders have left Thorne, in good spirits. The wind is picking up though, and not in a good way.
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Sorry Danial, linky not there.
Latest report appears to be http://www.danialwebb.com/lel/Tuesday1300.pdf (http://www.danialwebb.com/lel/Tuesday1300.pdf)
Some riders certainly are moving!
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I'm at traquair. Just had a most excellent massage. Moving on once I've finished this porage. Been blown from eskdalemuir. Trying not to think about turning around.
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My Dad chris (rider number 204) has just got to Edinburgh and is going to have a wash before he heads back.
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Rider 546 was at Thurlby a 17.14.
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Just had Paul O'Donoghue here, looking well but a bit blown about.
Latest report from controls at London Edinburgh London communications centre (http://www.danialwebb.com/lel.html)
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Saw Chris, Chris N, geraldc, Greenbank, Panoramix, VeloYellow, Rollo and (I think) John P at Alston last night. Very busy at times, nowhere to sleep by 10pm. Food looked horrible!
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Oh, and simonp, Really Ancien and Mr Dunwich Dynamo himself, Patrick Field & lucky hat!
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Did anyone get any photo's of one of the helpers at Coxwold (Lynn's daughter?) playing with her puppies?
;D ;D
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I say! No such entertainment up here in Cumbria :-(
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I was in the carpark and was taken aback when she asked Lynn if it was ok to go and get her puppies out as they'd been caged up all day.
I had to stay to watch though as Melita was playing with them also, then there was the bubble machine :o ;D
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Damn&Blast.I chose the wrong Control ::-)
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greetıngs from 45oC Turkey (tryıng to avoıd another bloody M Jackson trıbute show) you are all so glad you are not rıdıng here. no ıdea what the weather,s lıke ın UK but best wıshes (and a few comızzees) to all :thumbsup:
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Had supper in Cheshunt Tandoori.
Gamlingay still awaiting rider.
4 Italians were 2.5 hours behind him leaving Thurlby at 20.23
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Weather here in Weardale is atrocious tonight, with heavy rain all day tomorrow :-(
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Weather here in Weardale is atrocious tonight, with heavy rain all day tomorrow :-(
***MESSAGE FROM MEL ***
Those caught in dreadful Northern weather will be allowed an extra 2 hours.
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The latest report from the comms centre is at London Edinburgh London communications centre (http://www.danialwebb.com/lel.html)
The DNF list is getting pretty horrendous. The northern controls, ourselves included, are finding that those who get to a control are hunkering down for the night.
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The latest report from the comms centre is at London Edinburgh London communications centre (http://www.danialwebb.com/lel.html)
The DNF list is getting pretty horrendous. The northern controls, ourselves included, are finding that those who get to a control are hunkering down for the night.
The weather forecast is suggesting that it will be more of the same tomorrow.
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The DNF list is getting pretty horrendous.
Sorry to hear that, and best wishes and good luck to everyone who is still managing to plough on. I've been out of the loop with the whole LEL thing but it's great reading the reports here at least, which I shall continue to do avidly for the duration.
I look forward to the first reports of someone waking up in hospital declaring themselves mayor of Middleton Tyas.
d.
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Just back from supporting at Eskdalemuir (where I met the estimable Malvolio among other notables).
Last night was a trial for many - we had 15 beds and 100+ would-be sleepers! Most managed to find a space somewhere for 40 winks but it was not a pretty sight! We heard that following winds pushed quite a few folk further than they expected which partly explained how we were over-run.
Couple of "equipment events" - Russian rider limped in at 3am with a bust rear derailleur, campag record, no chance of fixing/bodging it. Moto support found the only 10 spd campag record device in a south of scotland bike shop and he was on his way by lunchtime ;D
North American rider broke a spoke on his Fulcrum Racing 5s, 24 spoke drive side rear, plans/hopes to get to Dalkeith and buy a replacement (non of us felt competent to replace with a bit of string and retune)- this event is brutal on riders and equipment alike.
Expect tonight to be similar to last night - riders reported pedalling hard downhill just to make any progress on the return from Dalkeith. Amazed at how cheerful people are in the face of adversity - folks arriving absolutely shattered but unfailingly polite and upbeat.
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I'm just back from giving a wee helping hand at the Dalkeith control which was being run with military precision by Sonia. When I left at 10pm there were still around 20 riders still due to check in who weren't on the DNF list. It had been raining since about 8pm and the night was definitely drawing in.
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Textual communication from Hummers:
At Alston - 895k in and beds booked until 5. It is grim weather. I had another deflation just 300yds from the end. As it was difficult to stand up I rode it flat to here it will have to wait until 5. Just under 300k today, 350 tomorrow. H
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I look forward to the first reports of someone waking up in hospital declaring themselves mayor of Middleton Tyas.
El Smutcho, have you met Mr Shovel?
Mr L in disguise at Loony Villas
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The DNF list is getting pretty horrendous.
It may not be quite that bad - a few people who are marked as packing at Dalkeith actually packed at Middleton Tyas yesterday. I assume word has only now filtered through.
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Some names and numbers appear more than once on the DNF list.
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First rider in 0125
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Seventh rider has just left Washingborough, and we have 2 sleepers.
Weather here is relatively calm at the moment, and early evening rain stopped a couple of hours ago.
Keith
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Italian bunchlet of four departed Gamlingay at 0150.
ETA LV 5am
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406 riders have passed through Eskdalemuir, of which 50 are still there. There are floods on the route north of the control. Latest report at London Edinburgh London communications centre (http://www.danialwebb.com/lel.html)
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Four Italians arrived Lee Valley 04.55
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It looks like after a night hunkered down, many riders are now on the move.
The AUK committee has granted all riders an additional four hours to complete the ride, and to get to all controls as far as Thurlby.
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Just had Mel on the phone.
The additional time limit is TWO HOURS Any need for additional time will be discussed by Committee after the end of the event.
Mel states she has discussed this with Keeff and with Sheila Simpson.
I'm off to sleep
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OK - this event has officially become an epic. Some truly horrendous stories coming through of conditions on Yad Moss last night.
Many riders holed up wherever they could - including the official controls, but also B&Bs, Travel Lodges or anywhere else they could find.
Still only 85 riders through Coxwold as of 7am Wednesday. AUK commitee has granted an extra 2 hours because of conditions.
And it's not over yet. We are under a Weather Warning of heavy/torrential rain and high winds later today.
It's gonna be a long day!
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This tweet from Simon Proven sums up the weather conditions
Last night was worst weather ever. Biblical rain + raging headwind. Got in at 23.15. Many people hypothermic. I was ok. At longtown now #lel
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And from MSeries "Yad Moss was cruel in wind and rain" about two hours ago.
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Hell, these guys are heroes.
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Four Italians arrived Lee Valley 04.55
Looks like they did it the easy way then!
The weather for later today down the east side of the country looks bad, and yesterday evening there was a Severe weather warning for the Cumbria area, which would be bordering on the section from Eskdalemuir to Yad Moss. We've had reports of flooding to bb depth, and of controllers preventing riders from going out into the worst of the weather.
Helly's message
The additional time limit is TWO HOURS Any need for additional time will be discussed by Committee after the end of the event.
has to be right. Keeff is in a very good position as he is both a Controller and AUK's chief Validator, ie he will be sorting out the mess at the end.
Volunteer controllers have had long shifts too and can't be asked to do more than this, although I'm sure many will. If Danial can stay open for +4h then that's great, but I think that will have to be on the understanding that riders will claw at least 2 back before Gamlingay and the finish. The forecast for Thursday is good and its flat enough.
At the very least, intermediate controllers obviously don't need to be dogmatic about rider's times - eg whether they were early or late starters - and allow as much wiggle room as they are able to, but also keep the latest riders moving, for their own sakes.
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Character building stuff.
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Oh boy, the weather for the east side of the country looks awful for the latter part of the day.
I'm glad I'm not out there.
But I'm also sorry that I won't have the experience of it all tucked away in the memory bank. Free lunches and all that.
edit: I'm not sure who 'mpolaine' is, but his twitter feed is particularly revealing. Now sadly packed though.
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Rain starting to set in here at Washingborough - breezy as well.
Saw 2 riders leaving the village a couple of hours ago - along with the first finishers they might get lucky and miss most of whats coming.
Best wishes and great respect to all those out there - sounds like most have experienced some dreadful conditions already and things don't look any better as they come south.
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Have not yet emerged from sleeping pit.
Lee Valley weather at 11am
100% cloud cover.
No current precipitation.
Minimal breeze
Ok but not lovely; no idea of temperature, probably cool for late July. (Nutty's wish to switch off the summer may have been granted...)
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Just seen VeloYellow, butcherboy and JStone going down Teesdale.
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Two riders left Gamlingay ~ 10:10; eta at Loony Villas around 13:00-13:30.
I am at home getting a change of trousis...
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Saw a rather weatherbeaten-looking recumbenteer in Elton this morning, just before the climb.
Having a fag break :o
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This is all making compelling reading - good luck to all involved!
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The Met office has done a U-turn on its predictions for a "barbecue summer"
We're being told to keep an umbrella close to hand in August, as the current unsettled weather is set to continue well into next month.
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Heavy rain again now at Coxwold.Flow of riders increasing, but still only 150 through.
Bit of a medical emergency as I left to come to the internet point (a rider with a heart rate of 140,down from 200 that had been that way for two hours) and the usual issues with sore bums, knees and hands.
MSeries and crowd seemed in good sprits. All riders are completely and utterly confused about timings. When on card stamoing duty, I've been saying that we've been told they have an extra 2 hours at some controls, but if I was riding and had the time margin, I'd aim to get back within the time stated on the Brevet card to avoid any problem. Easy for me to say!
It's a very rewarding experience being this side of the Brevet card for a change - and despite being desperately tired, wet, cold and miserable - 99.99% of riders have been very polite.
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Hell, these guys are heroes.
Chapeau to them all :D
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Oh boy, the weather for the east side of the country looks awful for the latter part of the day.
I'm glad I'm not out there.
But I'm also sorry that I won't have the experience of it all tucked away in the memory bank. Free lunches and all that.
edit: I'm not sure who 'mpolaine' is, but his twitter feed is particularly revealing. Now sadly packed though.
I was reading those updates too, and saw his tweet about packing...shame!
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The DNS list is surprisingly small, though I expect it to crawl up today.
Most of the riders are between Alston and Coxwold. Full details at London Edinburgh London communications centre (http://www.danialwebb.com/lel.html)
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Once they have finished, dried out, been fed and watered, there should be some epic articles in the forthcoming Arrivee :D
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The Met office has done a U-turn on its predictions for a "barbecue summer"
We're being told to keep an umbrella close to hand in August, as the current unsettled weather is set to continue well into next month.
I can't imagine anyone out there battling the elements over the Moss will give a monkey's about August. Hard men & women, all.
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Wouldn't it be great if we could make the #lel hashtag a trending topic on Twitter (so it appears on the main Twitter page as a popular topic).
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The DNS list is surprisingly small, though I expect it to crawl up today.
Most of the riders are between Alston and Coxwold. Full details at London Edinburgh London communications centre (http://www.danialwebb.com/lel.html)
The following riders on the spreadsheet/database have packed (DNF):
....
DNF riders are listed in the order that they have been reported to the
communications centre.
Seeing as the sheet is listed by rider number, I have my fingers crossed for the highest number riders finishing ;D
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My Dad (chris, number 204) got caught out in the storm last night and got hypothermia. He's being brought southwards in a van, so sadly, he's out of LEL. :'( Although he doesn't appear to be on the official list yet.
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:( But if he was struggling, it's not a bad thing to pack. He's done bloody well in unexpectedly awful conditions.
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Oh, the poor thing. Definitely the right decision - hope he recovers fast.
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Poor chris!
appreciate all his family efforts. GWS!
7 riders have now arrived at Lee Valley.
9 have set off from Gamlingay.
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Poor chris!
appreciate all his family efforts. GWS!
7 riders have now arrived at Lee Valley.
9 have set off from Gamlingay.
Get the kettle on for them all...they deserve it!
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Another
six five riders have just arrived, including an afternoon starter.
And they're all drinking BEER
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Anyone spotted Hummers and Postie?
I had txt from Els (swarm_catcher) this morning and it seems like she's going well.
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Hi Chaps,
Mostly riding on my own I spent some time with variously with Arabella, Stephen Poulton and Greenback and assorted other riders of all nationalities. I briefly saw Deniece Davidson at Thurlby I think it was who expressed fears about being on her own whilst cycling back to the land of her birth and suggested we rode together... and then promptly dropped me minutes after leaving the control!
A good first day but sadly too many pies and not enough riding meant that I found myself walking where I would expect to be riding as soon as the road started going upwards on the run into Cuxwold. As this was "the easy bit" and I didn't fancy walking all the way to Scotland a Sensible Decision had to be made. In hindsight it seems like it was a Very Sensible Decision. I'm hanging out at the Gamblingay with Melita, Steve Abs and Martin (NOTP) to lend a hand as they were a bit shorthanded so I'll see the YACF posse later.
The good news is that the weather has been fine here except for the continuing stiff south wind. Todate the riders passing through have been in remarkably good cheer and generally looking like they've done no more than a shortish club run.
Pip pip!
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Anyone spotted Hummers and Postie?
I had a text from Hummers this morning at about 9.30
At Middleton Tyas 969K in at 9.15. Very tough first two hours then very pleasant. Grim weather ahead we are told. Oh well. Will be radio silence for a while as reception is patchy. H
Hoping to get another text from him in the next few hours to let me know that he is ok. He is still with Postie. Have ridden together all the way I believe.
Mrs H
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The rump appears to be passing through Coxwold at the moment. The latest figures, as at 16:15, are at London Edinburgh London communications centre (http://www.danialwebb.com/lel.html).
The riders passing through Thorne seem in good cheer. It's raining, but the wind has died down.
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Mseries is at Thorne and very wet apparently. Twitter three minutes ago.
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Glad he's making progress.
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Anyone spotted Hummers and Postie?
I had a text from Hummers this morning at about 9.30
At Middleton Tyas 969K in at 9.15. Very tough first two hours then very pleasant. Grim weather ahead we are told. Oh well. Will be radio silence for a while as reception is patchy. H
Hoping to get another text from him in the next few hours to let me know that he is ok. He is still with Postie. Have ridden together all the way I believe.
Mrs H
Excellent - Thanks Mrs H
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Just back from volunteering at Eskdalemuir - about 8hrs sleep in the last 54 so not sure how coherent this will be.
As Ritchie735 posted earlier, Monday night was a bit manic dealing with far more riders than we had space for. Last night was epic with riders arriving with hypothermia after battling torrential rain with gale force headwinds. Most were persuaded to stay put until first light by which time the conditions had eased and all but a very few recovered sufficiently to carry on South. Top marks to members of the local community (who were doing the catering) who volunteered to take the worst of the cases into their own homes to be given a decent warm bed for the night. They also went out to check up on riders still out on the roads in the storm.
I met the last 3 riders on the road (and well out of time) about 20km north of the control on my way home. GlasgowDave took a Canadian rider out this morning and managed to locate a new front wheel for him to replace the one he broke on a cattle grid at the height of the storm (about 10pm) 20km north of the control - that he rode that distance on it in those conditions is too scary to think about!
I met quite a few yacfers at the control but have no idea now of who they were other than Mal Volio, GlasgowDave and Ritchie735 who were also working at the control. Hopefully my memory will recover when I've had some sleep.
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Coxwold - 16:30.
ChrisN looking like he was out for a Sunday afternoon bimble. Respect!
Hummers also looked well.
Others looking less well. One hypothermic chap arriving as I was popping up to the internet site, and one chap earlier (a German chap) taken to hospital with cardiac distress.
Very heavy rain. These poor peeps are sodden and freezing cold. July eh? ::-)
The slower ones are going find this next few hours really tough - there is torrential rain at times. At least the wind is lighter.
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Poor buggers, PBP was hideous and then you wait two years and LEL is just as bad...
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Hi Eck and also to all others who helped at controls etc. from this Scots wimp. the temptation to finish at Dalkeith was just too much with my sore knee. Iwas finding it very diff to get out of the saddle on the hills.
Mistakes I made were starting too fast not being able to route find although i usually waited till a group came along and latched on. Didn't enjoy the rain and changed my plan to ride non stop to Dalkeith by stopping at Thorn at 10pm Sunday and then rode non stop to Dalkeith which I arrived at around 6am Tues.
I was feeling really miserable around Coxwold and Middleton and would have got a train or hired a car to get home if either was handy nearby. My morale was O>K> by Dalkeith and I put in a couple of hours as a baggage handler and kitchen assistant at the control. Highlights were seeing lots of lights twinkling in the dark on the hills around Eskdalemuir and seeing the first riders heading south near Long town.
Rode in the armchair behind YACFer Matt for a while and with a group of Canadians and Americans on Monday AM. Also rode with Els from London and Margaret and an Irishman from Dorset between Middleton and Eskdalemuir where the stopped but I chose to make use of the lovely night and head for Dalkeith.
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Really sorry to hear that Brian Cook packed at Dalkeith. He is so strong I don't have an adhesive strong enough to glue myself to his back wheel usually. Hope he is OK. It looks like I missed all the fun or further agony going south by my sensible decision at Dalkeith.
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Just had a text from Hummers....
He is at Thorne, and not staying long and pushing on to Washingborough and sleeping there...Sounded in fine fettle, though a littled tired!
Mrs H
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Just checked the 16:15 list and my Dad/chris/rider 204 still isn't on there as a DNFer despite the fact he is in one of the vans, should I (or get my mum to) contact anyone? :-\ He packed at Eskiedalemuir.
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No it's ok - there was no internet and poor phone coverage from Eskdalemuir so info has been slow to get out - he has been recorded has DNF at the control (did it myself), so no need to worry. I think he will be at MT tonight so they will also know.
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Hi Eck and also to all others who helped at controls etc. from this Scots wimp.
Well Phil, thanks for the update.
Glad you're back safe - it sounds like it's a horrendous ride for all concerned.
Any news of other YACF Ecosse riders. (I know there weren't many. I think I was one of more than a few put off by (inter alia) the thought of driving from E to L, riding from L to E and then E to L then driving all the way back from L to E. ie 2800k.)
Anyway, sounds like you did the right thing. You should have done the Mersey Roads 24 instead - a whole 24 hours of "fun" for only £15. :thumbsup:
See you for the Cullen Stink Skink?
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eck, i was reliably informed that neil Mcdade and roberto had passed through Dalkeith yesterday afternoon. both apparently looked well.
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Hi Eck and also to all others who helped at controls etc. from this Scots wimp.
Hi Phil. I was chatting to you at Eskdalemuir, good to hear you're okay.
Glad you're back safe - it sounds like it's a horrendous ride for all concerned.
Any news of other YACF Ecosse riders.
I only recognised Neil McDade, I put him on his way south at around 4 am. The wind had dropped and he had company for the ride.
Weather last night was horrendous. We had a few people pack and had to find ways of getting them or their gear to Lockerbie.
I was very impressed with the Canadians, the bloke went with me to get a wheel, then they got back on their bikes and kept on going. They may make it in the time limit, and I hope they do.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2430/3769156053_7a1e52d47c.jpg)
I did have a Japanese gentlemen mimic the effect the sound and sight of pedalling through 40 cm of water at around 3 this morning, having made 10kph from Traquair.
I've uploaded a few photos that I took during lulls in the action.
A few more photos here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/audaxuk/ (http://www.flickr.com/groups/audaxuk/)
Dave
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No it's ok - there was no internet and poor phone coverage from Eskdalemuir so info has been slow to get out - he has been recorded has DNF at the control (did it myself), so no need to worry. I think he will be at MT tonight so they will also know.
He's fine.
Hadn't clocked he was that Chris.
he was very, very cold last night and this morning but when I left at about 11 he was in good spirits and making plans to scrounge a lift.
EskDM was a bit of a revelation, seeing it from the other side. Great team there, with Phil & Mary D working hard and the rest of us doing what we could.
Monday night was indeed horrendous; not the weather as much as trying to fit 100+ sleepy people into a shoebox. I can tell you that a really prime sleeping location was a windowsill in the dining room; a poor one would be a damp piece of cardboard in a drafty corridor - and by the enmed there was no floor space left anywhere.
Lessons learned: I'd suggest a modelling exercise on who might end up where based on rider numbers and speeds; based on that I'd make sure controls with high rider sleep number expectations had lots of beds.
I'd never, ever ride this event on a low spoke-count wheel. Loads of problems with these.
Having a great control team makes it a joy :)
Maverick, Dave, Ritchie753 & Neil were great :)
I was on the same train to Crewe as Matthew Polaine. Interesting views from an audax virgin. The girl in the seat behind (a rising track star) suggested we have a shower when we got home :)
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I was on the same train to Crewe as Matthew Polaine. Interesting views from an audax virgin. The girl in the seat behind (a rising track star) suggested we have a shower when we got home :)
ISTR an Arrivée article by The Great McNasty, about his Three Capitals 1500k perm. He arrived back in Edinburgh to get the train home. His final sentence was along the lines of "the train was somewhat crowded, but my powerful scent soon secured me a seat."
;D Genius. ;D
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Scottlington, simonp and greenbank through Coxwold in the last hour, all looking well.
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http://www.danialwebb.com/lel/Wednesday2100.pdf (http://www.danialwebb.com/lel/Wednesday2100.pdf)
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Had a couple of DNFs at Middleton Tyas - a couple on a tandem who were unable to maintain their balance, and were surprisingly cheerful about the whole thing. A couple of Italians who lacked the English to give sufficient reason, but they looked knackered. A Scot who was taken out by an, erm, well-built foreign lady and whose hip ached too much for him to carry on. A couple of others, and one who looked like she was ready to quit. I sent her onto Alston, where hopefully they can persuade her to push on to Eskdalemuir, then Dalkeith...
I've seen her name and number on the DNF list :( Pity, but it was probably for the right reasons, given the reports we've had in...
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has anyone seen or does anyone know of the whereabouts of the Berliners Ralf, Nicole, Klaus and Ingo?
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a text in from Hummers ~ he and postie are at washingborough. Wet through with a choice of a bed or a blanket. Will try and get some rest and they will push on to the finish tomorrow.
Mrs H
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I was just typing it out when you posted, Mrs H :)
At Washingborough - 1184k in. Accomodation is going downhill. We are sleeping at the control and can have either a bed or a blanket, not both! I am soaked through with no dry top so tonight is going to be fun. We are leaving at 5 for the last 217k, if not before! H
Bloody hell.
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Sounds like Mseries is pressing on to Thurlby tonight. Should be on course for a comfortable finish tomorrow. If comfortable is the right word. ;D
Well done everyone. I would have given up at the weather forecast.
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I've volunteered to be at the finish tomorrow to help with anything and everything that needs doing. What time do you think I should be there?
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Sounds like Mseries is pressing on to Thurlby tonight. Should be on course for a comfortable finish tomorrow. If comfortable is the right word. ;D
He did say that he might wait at the pub which is a few miles from the finish, sink a few pints with Warburton and watch everyone ride in before going to the finish and checking in ;D
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According to Twitter, Chris N has been at Thorne since 8 drinking beer. Planning to be up at 4 .
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eck, i was reliably informed that neil Mcdade and roberto had passed through Dalkeith yesterday afternoon. both apparently looked well.
Allez neimc & roberto :thumbsup:
Hard luck peekay - sounds like you made the right decision, though.
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At Willingham (between Thorne and Washingborough) staying at my mum's tonight with miniog. Plan to set off about 6:30 tomorrow. Saw the sun for 2 minutes today - just as it was setting. And a huge rainbow opposite over Gainsborough. There's hope for tomorrow. Expecting John Spooner in a couple of hours time with an unknown number of Italians in tow, though not sure if we'll see them. Wet clothes are in the tumble. (Probably shouldn't have admitted that as it's not very 'Audax' and may get us disqualified).
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I've volunteered to be at the finish tomorrow to help with anything and everything that needs doing. What time do you think I should be there?
Any time for as long/short as you can/like.
We are expecting LOTS of riders tomorrow and the control is open for all 24 hours.
Closes Friday 13.40.
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Poor buggers, PBP was hideous and then you wait two years and LEL is just as bad...
My thoughts exactly wel done to all having a go this year and Chapeau to those still on the road. :thumbsup:
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... PBP was hideous...
[/quote]
Well, I enjoyed it. This LEL sounds worse. I'm glad I only did a short ride at the weekend,
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My Dad (chris, number 204) got caught out in the storm last night and got hypothermia. He's being brought southwards in a van, so sadly, he's out of LEL. :'( Although he doesn't appear to be on the official list yet.
Comiserations. That's nasty. Sterling effort none the less, and fingers crossed for a speedy recovery.
d.
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a text in from Hummers ~ he and postie are at washingborough. Wet through with a choice of a bed or a blanket. Will try and get some rest and they will push on to the finish tomorrow.
Mrs H
Riders arriving at Washingborough today have been loaned towels, offered showers, hot food and up to a couple of hours ago camp beds. The few blankets we had were kept back for those latecomers who need to sleep on a carpeted floor.
Have just had to stop my hard working volunteers from moving hubbie's bed out into the car park to continue his hellish experiences. :demon:
Keith
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... PBP was hideous...
Well, I enjoyed it. This LEL sounds worse.
Britain folk are obviously quite used to wet weather. I'm happy with a description of "PBP was tough, very tough" and am glad to have avoided this edition of LEL. Kudos to those still out there, I'd have bailed (probably necessary, given the amount of rain).
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I'm very glad not to riding this LEL - I doubt very much I'd have the gumption to keep going in the conditions they've been having.
Does look like there's hope for a better day today though so hopefully a chance for shorts, mitts and park benches to dry off which is what I'd be desperate for if I was out there.
Nik
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Shame. I was with him when he did his six hundred last t
year. He did awfully well then. Probably just needed to stop off for some home cooked food at your place. I know that got me over the line.
Just checked the 16:15 list and my Dad/chris/rider 204 still isn't on there as a DNFer despite the fact he is in one of the vans, should I (or get my mum to) contact anyone? :-\ He packed at Eskiedalemuir.
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Hummers again:
Thurlby - 1251k. Bacon rolls all round. Rolling countryside & 85k to Gamlingay. H
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What's the revised cut-off time for the 10am and 2pm starters?
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Dear All,
Finished this morning in the early hours - 89 hours.
The ride was epic - those who completed Shelia's Cambrian 600 this year will be familiar with the conditions that have dominated the ride from day 2 onwards. That was damm good preparation - but this was far worse. The ride reports will make interesting reading!
Thanks to Bob J who I rode with for about 2/3rds of the way and to Simon who took me kicking and screaming from the warm and dry at Washingborough to the finish in the driving rain.
From the start I got to Coxwold on Day 1, Day 2 Eskdalmuir (return leg), Day 3 Thorne overnight and finish. Sensible overnight stops as per my pre event plan.
My body is now officially a wreck, from the neck down.
I must say that the volunteer helpers at the all controls have been absolutely superb - personally, I can't thank them enough for the encouragement and support that helped me and all the others endure the conditions.
Maybe a ride report to follow......
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Hard luck peekay (& the other DNFers) - IME bad weather is very rough on dodgy knees (mine are far, far worse when cold and wet, hence the wide & exciting array of knee protection I carry with me on rides).
Very glad I decided not to go for this one in the end - not only I am outrageously unfit due to the lack of exercise on the return from Oz, but even at my fittest I'd undoubtedly have packed in these sorts of conditions.
Ooh, a new post - congratulations, Humpdoc!
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Morning all
A busy, though steady morning here in Thorne.
It's a nice day here. Broken cloud, dry, with a fresh westerly wind that will tend to be in their favour.
Reports at London Edinburgh London communications centre (http://www.danialwebb.com/lel.html)
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Finished late afternoon Wednesday and almost had a dry home run from Washingburn. But oh the headwind, especially from Thurlby, made it the battle all the way.
Rode with the Humpdoc group on first day to Coxwold, then slept at Esk (return) and Washingburn. I teamed up with a German rider, Olaf, on return approach to Alston and we rode to finish together. It was already very windy at Alston but rain cleared after Yad Moss, and we managed to miss the worst of the weather fortunately.
My vote for best food goes to the Thorne control. Fantastic pea & ham soup, goulash, and pudding & custard and on the return I enjoyed tomato & lentil soup, lamb casserole and apple & custard. I was forgetting place names during ride but could remember these meals! Also Nev Cooke, one of the Thorne helpers, gave me a bottle cage from his bike when one of my cages broke - thanks :thumbsup: My appreciation too to all the control teams and riders with whom I shared the road.
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Pootle mode now. At cafe in Gainsborough about to get going again. Is it wrong to have secretly enjoyed the epic ride from traquair to eskdalemuir? It was a chance to laughing the face if the weather gods. iPod volume up, head down, pedal like mad. :thumbsup:
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What's the revised cut-off time for the 10am and 2pm starters?
They are allowed two extra hours as I understand it. I don't know the official closing times and the relavent documents are not within my reach right now.
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My first lel, and my first ride over 300k ended at thorne 830 last night. I am a physical wreck, and would have battled on had it not been for bad numbness in all four fingers and thumb of left hand.
I had a great experience, despite the weather, great cameraderie, and huge sense of acheivement despite bailing out so near the end.
met loads of folk along the way, and enjoyed the ride. Each day had a different challenge, and a new ailment to overcome. In the end my body wasn't up to it! Thanks to all the volunteers for great food, encouragement and hard work. Top marks go to pea and ham soup at thorne, macaroni cheese at coxwold, and chili at eskdalemuir.
if i do it again, i'll try to get more training in beforehand..... Then hopfully i wont have to ride on two burst, raw blisters the size of fifty pence peices on each buttock.... Which will help me put less weight on my hands, and avoid damaging my hands. And some sun would help.
i was rider 8 by the way - blonde hair, isle of mull cc top, hobbling when off the bike. Tweeted as island bakery.
See you next time!
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Finished this morning in the early hours - 89 hours.
Congratulations! Great achievement. Look forward to the report.
My first lel, and my first ride over 300k ended at thorne 830 last night. I am a physical wreck, and would have battled on had it not been for bad numbness in all four fingers and thumb of left hand.
Unlucky - but it's still extremely impressive to get as far as you did, especially if it's your first ride over 300k.
d.
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Thanks for the biscuits/cookies. They're going down a treat. Sunny here at LV.
>80 riders have now completed.
Riders' homeward journeys complicated by rail strikes and industrial action at Stansted, resulting in cancelled flights.
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Hellymedic - I would be able to help at LV from tonight if team needs extra assistance. Can you let me know when would be the most useful time. With rail problems from Liverpool St I would drive and need to park car at LV.
Martin L (Rider 030)
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Hellymedic - I would be able to help at LV from tonight if team needs extra assistance. Can you let me know when would be the most useful time. With rail problems from Liverpool St I would drive and need to park car at LV.
Martin L (Rider 030)
Thanks. Yes please!
Lee Valley Park has car park which is locked overnight from aroound 9pm-9am.
I don't know if this is any use to you. If you come early, you can incarcrate your vehicle.
Otherwise we can try to accomodate you somehow.
Interwebs are so ropy here it's taken me an hour to reply to you.
Thanks again,
Helen
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... PBP was hideous...
Well, I enjoyed it. This LEL sounds worse. I'm glad I only did a short ride at the weekend,
I think we 84 hr PBPers had it easier than the main field, but I can confirm that the conditions around Traquair and Eskdalemuir on Tuesday night were astonishingly bad. An absolutely screaming headwind, roads flooded to BB height in places, and torrential rain.
We did indeed send out a van to check on/collect people.
I'm just astonished at what great spirits everyone was in, and at how very few called it a day at Eskdalemuir. A few came in in a sufficiently bad way to talk of packing right then, but a meal, some warm and a sleep got most of them back on an even keel. Those that did stop made intelligent, informed decisions the next morning - and chapeau to them. It takes a lot to make that call.
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Thanks to all the volunteers for great food, encouragement and hard work. Top marks go to pea and ham soup at thorne, macaroni cheese at coxwold, and chili at eskdalemuir.
The chilli was made in industrial quantities at the Samye Ling centre by their chef :)
The people doing the food at Esk. were local volunteers, not wise to the ways of audax, and were startled at how much was consumed. They had to make at least two emergency supermarket runs - at the start they'd been concerned that they might have over-catered :)
We'd never seen such rigid enforcement of hygiene and health regs. That kitchen was run to professional catering standards, with all the people in hairnets and everyone in contact with food using disposable gloves. If there were any upset stomachs, it wasn't the food at Esk. that did it. Phil D also arranged a guaranteed-clean bidon water supply system that was well away from the loos.
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Thanks. Yes please!
Lee Valley Park has car park which is locked overnight from aroound 9pm-9am.
I don't know if this is any use to you. If you come early, you can incarcrate your vehicle.
Otherwise we can try to accomodate you somehow.
Interwebs are so ropy here it's taken me an hour to reply to you.
Thanks again,
Helen
[/quote]
OK, I shall be at LV for around 11pm. Will leave car in local streets overnight.
Martin
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Thanks Martin.
You're a star!
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Just to say my Dad's back home, we went and picked him up from Peterbrough this morning. He's gone to bed:) I expect he'll give a ride report later.
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Thanks to all the volunteers for great food, encouragement and hard work. Top marks go to pea and ham soup at thorne, macaroni cheese at coxwold, and chili at eskdalemuir.
The people doing the food at Esk. were local volunteers, not wise to the ways of audax, and were startled at how much was consumed.
And completely mystified as to why anyone would want to cycle from London to Edinburgh and back non-stop despite our best efforts at explaining what the attraction was! Mind you, at 2am with tropical amounts of rain driven by gale force winds I couldn't see much of a reason for doing it either.
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Hummers and Postie have just arrived at LV.
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:thumbsup:
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I'd just say that when I saw her, Arabella was going well, was in good spirits and had a decent time cushion.
edit: Swarmcatcher also doing OK and seemed in good spirits.
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Just had a doze in the sun. Ace. Onwards to thurlby.
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Pootle mode now. At cafe in Gainsborough about to get going again. Is it wrong to have secretly enjoyed the epic ride from traquair to eskdalemuir? It was a chance to laughing the face if the weather gods. iPod volume up, head down, pedal like mad. :thumbsup:
Well done Simon, I did wonder how it would go for you. I was the marshal that held your bike while you got your stuff sorted out as you left Traquair. Checked out your GPS track today and was pleased to see you were doing so well.
Got back to work today I feel knackered, I was only helping at the control gawd knows how I would feel if I had ridden it!
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MattH just finished :)
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MSeries finished at 1730. :) :) :thumbsup:
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jwo in at 6:30 ish :)
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Just got home from Coxwold. I need to catch up on some sleep!
Being the stampy side of the Brevet card was new to me. I was humbled by the riders as they battled their way through an epic event. Well done everyone who took part - finishers or not.
And a Big Hug to Lynn Hedley who put it all together at Coxwold. It just worked - and nearly all the riders who commented about their experience there were very positive.
Now. Beer. And sleeeeep.
Oh - driving across the flatlands near the southbound LEL route this afternoon; it was very windy. I suspect it was mostly a cross-wind, but that is still a hindrance which will add a sting to the tail of the ride for the backmarkers.
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The wind here (Northampton) is dropping a bit and that effect should travel East. Forecast is for a coolish night, fine, wind dropping to single figures but going SSW-ish.
If we trust that, 'tis time for a BBQ.
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Any recent news of arollsopp? Is he still homewood bound with zip ties ?
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Been back sleeping in Northampton since about mid day. Had to pack due to getting a bit hypothermic after the section between Tranquair and Eskdalemuir. Bit disappointed after a good run up to Edinburgh, my GPS beeping for the half way point just south of Edinburgh at just under 52 hours. Managed to bimble back with a series of lifts through most of the controls. Still feeling a bit 'not quite with it', so will post a more coherant report in a few days time.
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Any recent news of arollsopp? Is he still homewood bound with zip ties ?
He hasn't updated on his facebook, would love to know any news of him!
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I "helped" at Thorne tues, wed, thurs and would like to echo the comment earlier about the good nature of the riders.
Fantastic considering there were plenty of language barriers and some very uncomfortable people.
Well done all :thumbsup:
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Looks like about 75 DNFs; arrelsop wasn't amongst them as of 10 am today
Some quite big names are though. Andy Clarkson included - he was flying at Esk. First British rider through...
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†⊗ߥ in at 21:25
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Any news of VeloYellow (Martin Pearson) yet?
He looked finished on Monday night, but I saw him still rolling yesterday.
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Busy at Lee Valley.
Crash 10 miles north of here has meant LELer waas carted to hospital and road was closed by police.
rob arrived 1.30
Heather is here, taking photographs.
Atmosphere jolly.
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Oh no! Anyone we know?
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Hi Folks
Back home in Scotland, safe and sound, finished in the early hours of Wed morning cold, numb, sore and glad that it was all over . The wind and rain made it a very hard shift, IMHO a lot harder than PBP2007.
A very big thank you to all of the helpers at the controls, looked after us all very well giving much needed words of encouragement and support. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I now know how ‘Washingbrough’ got its name, that’s what I thought I had been through when I arrived at the control.
Cheers
Roberto
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Just had a text from Chris N - he's finished. Reckons it took him 109 hours and 10 minutes.
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Big chapeau Roberto from all the YACF Ecosse crew that
had more sense were less audacious than you. Very well done indeed, pal. :thumbsup:
Any news of neilmc? Or indeed any other Ecossais doing the ride?
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Just had a text from Chris N - he's finished. Reckons it took him 109 hours and 10 minutes.
Just saw his facebook post. Yay! Beer and bacon butties: the fuel of giants.
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Chapeau everyone. Having bailed on PBP 2007 I know how hard it is to be forced to give up and how hard it must be to continue when the conditions are bad.
It's been great reading this thread, I really look forward to the ride reports.
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scottlington: finished! 22.50
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Some quite big names are though. Andy Clarkson included - he was flying at Esk. First British rider through...
Andy was rider 132, and was back down South supping a pint with Bob J when I spoke with him, rider 133 is another matter . Andy was in Dalkeith about 2100hrs on Tuesday when I spoke to him, and briefly Sonya and as we got cut off , the shoulders mending well .....I Think
Andy S
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Ah, makes sense.
the official DNF info is wrong then. I couldn't see Andy DNFing...
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Big chapeau Roberto from all the YACF Ecosse crew that had more sense were less audacious than you. Very well done indeed, pal. :thumbsup:
Any news of neilmc? Or indeed any other Ecossais doing the ride?
+1 :thumbsup: I was starting to get jealous of all the LELers last week, but once the news about the weather started coming in I must admit I was glad to be sitting at home. Rain I can deal with, massive headwinds just grind me down. What was your time then Roberto?
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Any news on recumbent Andy?
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Any news on recumbent Andy?
From CC his ETA is/was 2am. Posted by a friend of his.
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Any news of VeloYellow (Martin Pearson) yet?
He looked finished on Monday night, but I saw him still rolling yesterday.
Going ok last time I looked.
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Scottlinton and John Spooner finished :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Scottlinton and John Spooner finished :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Excellent news.
H
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rob arrived 1.30
Makes me look good, but it was 9.30 along with Chris Tracey and Richard Thomas. Had to rush off to get the train. Home now.
Bez arrived as we were leaving.
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Panoramix is in on Alex's bike :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Finished my stint volunteering at Gamblingay and now back at Lea Valley with Swiss Hat, The Mayor and assorted others. I'm expecting Arabella, Swarmcatcher , Greenbank, GeraldC and others to turn up shortly (if they havent already)!
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Post is a bit late. Finished Wednesday night at about 10pm. 84 hours. Saw Swiss Hat at Thorne heading south. I was arriving as he was leaving. Apart from Mr Volio did not meet many that I knew. Had a great time and rode mainly with Swedes and Germans
I would like to thank all the helpers, who were amazing, and Mel Kirkland who helped me back when the wheels fell of at 1300km.
Now I just need to get my sleeping sorted out. I should be in bed asleep. Not posting.
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I came in around the same time as John Spooner, after an adventure surrounding a rear derailleur. The mechanic at Gamlingay managed to patch a different one in and get me going back with two gears over the last leg. Given the state of my knees this was probably one gear too many! Many thanks to the mechanic for the fix.
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Finished my stint volunteering at Gamblingay and now back at Lea Valley with Swiss Hat, The Mayor and assorted others. I'm expecting Arabella, Swarmcatcher , Greenbank, GeraldC and others to turn up shortly (if they havent already)!
Any news on these guys at all?
H
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Bez arrived as we were leaving.
Yes back at just after 21:45 last night together witrh Joolz and richie.
We rode the whole thing together - not pre-planned just something that was decided within the first 20k or so as we were riding at a similar pace.
Ride report to follow, at some point, but before that a big thanks to all the helpers.
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does anyone have news of the two Canadians we helped get a replacement wheel at Eskdalemuir? They were pretty determined to finish despite losing around 10 hours while we waited for a bike shop to open.
They were numbers 552 and 553.
Dave
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Greenbank & GeraldC in at about 4:30 this morning
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simonp just in :)
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Makes you feel proud to be a member of a forum where such tough and hardy people are its members :D
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Recumbent Andy (Arallsopp) has finished, he said (v early this morning)
"Is early.
Got round in 107:06.
Hello.
Bed. "
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Looking at his GPS tracking (http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?&glId=0PhyeIt4Cd9KcyVI5udIBFNJJjeQhmNmJ), it looks like simonp got in around 8-30.
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Finished with GeraldC, LeeG and Life of Brian at about 3.30am.
On the sofa catching up with things and downloading the data off the GPS. Snooze time as I've had about 10 hours sleep in the last 5 days.
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Makes you feel proud to be a member of a forum where such tough and hardy people are its members :D
+1
Tough, hardy, motivated, determined, resourceful and sheer bloodyminded.
These guys are hard riding, goddamned heroes :thumbsup:
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PBP; LEL; TRAT; DunRun on a freaking Ordinary - is there anything that forumers won't try?
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PBP; LEL; TRAT; DunRun on a freaking Ordinary - is there anything that forumers won't try?
I was going to say incest and Morris Dancing, but then I remembered that Tuggo is on the forum...
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We have at least one other Morris Dancer so that leaves incest as far as we know. ;D
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PBP; LEL; TRAT; DunRun on a freaking Ordinary - is there anything that forumers won't try?
I was going to say incest and Morris Dancing, but then I remembered that Tuggo is on the forum...
;D
H
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Makes you feel proud to be a member of a forum where such tough and hardy people are its members :D
+1
Tough, hardy, motivated, determined, resourceful and sheer bloodyminded.
These guys are hard riding, goddamned heroes :thumbsup:
Couldn't agree with you more Charlotte :thumbsup:
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PBP; LEL; TRAT; DunRun on a freaking Ordinary - is there anything that forumers won't try?
I was going to say incest and Morris Dancing, but then I remembered that Tuggo is on the forum...
I went Morris dancing once. My brother was an accomplished dancer and pipe-and-tabor player.
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I did Morris Dancing at school as well. Bells and handkerchiefs, sticks and inflated bladders - lord knows what Freud would have made of it all...
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made it back yesterday afternoon in 98hrs and 20mins, all well apart from the obvious(and some not soooo obvious) sore bits. going to catch up with some required sleep but i am never going to eat anymore food, ever!
After this i just may take up morris dancing.....
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We have at least one other Morris Dancer so that leaves incest as far as we know. ;D
I've always fancied Morris Dancing but don't fancy my mother or sister so I can't help with incest. I just thought I would let you know in case you were thinking "I wonder what Oscar's Dad's position is on Morris Dancing and incest?" ;D
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I did Morris Dancing at school as well. Bells and handkerchiefs, sticks and inflated bladders - lord knows what Freud would have made of it all...
How exactly does a morris dancer inflate his bladder?
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I did Morris Dancing at school as well. Bells and handkerchiefs, sticks and inflated bladders - lord knows what Freud would have made of it all...
How exactly does a morris dancer inflate his bladder?
He probably asks someone that isn't his parent, sibling or child to help thus avoiding the incest trap.
Tell me, was this thread once about a long distance bike ride?
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Some very appropriate posts on this page (to which I cannot add) in amongst the inappropriate ones ;D You know who you are :)
EDIT - Well done all the riders!
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Matt C is in :)
No longer can claim Lanterne rouge..
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made it back yesterday afternoon in 98hrs and 20mins, all well apart from the obvious(and some not soooo obvious) sore bits. going to catch up with some required sleep but i am never going to eat anymore food, ever!
After this i just may take up morris dancing.....
Well done stubbo! :thumbsup:
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Tell me, was this thread once about a long distance bike ride?
I've had enough of LEL for a while. Not as much as the riders though, I'll wager.
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Matt C is in :)
No longer can claim Lanterne rouge..
Lanterne Rouge (yesterday at least - before I left Coxwold) was held by two chaps (forgotten who) who came in 6 hours after Ivo Meisen, and about 7 hours after we'd closed ;D.
Needless to say - we stamped their cards and fed them as though they were in time. They didn't seem the least bit worried about being out of time - clearly they were using a different set of priorities.
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I did Morris Dancing at school as well. Bells and handkerchiefs, sticks and inflated bladders - lord knows what Freud would have made of it all...
How exactly does a morris dancer inflate his bladder?
I'm not sure if it's more or less disturbing to know that the teachers seemed to have performed this task for us in advance...
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Matt C is in :)
No longer can claim Lanterne rouge..
Well done Matt - I was hoping he wouldn't be late again :thumbsup:
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Just got home after a night sleeping at the YHA. Went around with Joolz and Bez as we were all at a similar pace. Now sampling recovery drinks (various ales!) Congrats to all..
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Steve & Aidan rolled into LV @10:00 Thursday, 'enjoyed' the ride, coming in at a comfortable time, around 70 riders in front of us. Even then we met some very tired riders. I think we missed the worst of the weather, chapeau to anyone getting round the event.
After Coxwold , we were at almost empty controls, and on out own on the road, quite odd really
The Coxwold control team are now talking about LEL 2013, Industrial dryers may be provided!
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Greenbank & GeraldC in at about 4:30 this morning
They arrived at 3:30. Would have been a bit earlier if I hadn't had the worst attack of the dozies 35km from the end. From feeling fine to thinking that the bike was on ski's and thnking people were turning into dogs etc in a matter of minutes. I owe everybody in the group thanks for nursing me home.
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Back home. Jeez, what a ride.
A few impressions -
- climbing for ever up Yad moss in the middle of the night into a howling headwind being straffed by rain and arriving to find absolutely no floor space - finally kipped an hour on the floor of the corridor to the gents loo;
- climbing for ever ++ to drag into Eskdalemuir in a deluge of rain that almost washed my glasses from my face - no room at the inn - sleep an hour on the window ledge;
- turned around at Dalkeith and climbed for ever (a trend?) into a thundering headwind limiting speed to circa 8kph - fortunately the road turned and the high ground shelterd a bit; having to pedal furiously to go downhill very draining; side winds doing more steering than I was;
- caught and towed by a group of noisy Spanish who enjoyed herding half a dozen sheep along the lane in front of us;
- back from Traquair to Eskdalemuir in headwinds/ ferocious rain/bitter cold - any forced stop would have meant instant hypothermia - the first time in my life when I've been seriously frightened for my personal safety on an Audax ride;
- ride from Thurlby to Gamlingay notable for 45mins kip, in group with Fidgetbuzz and two others, on the ground in a pub car park, followed by the most cold I've ever been on the bike, necessitating abandonment of plan to ride on through to finish.
- finally seeing some sunshine on Friday morning and a dash across to Lee Valley to get in by 9.30 a.m.
Am never, ever, going to do this again ...... probably.
Sleep now.
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Simply amazing what
pig headedness determination can accomplish. :thumbsup:
A stunning effort from everyone involved.
In spite of the horror stories, I wish I had been out there riding. With two years to go I guess I have no excuses not to be ready for PBP.
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Matt C is in :)
No longer can claim Lanterne rouge..
That's good to hear. I lost him at Gamlingay control this morning which was a shame as it would have been fun to do the last 60 together, after riding most of Tranquire to there with him.
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Home slept and washed ( I think the rain did the rest of the washing during the week).
I now know how you were feeling Leeg. After I left you all at the hostel I needed to complete My Centre of London to Center of Edinburgh jolly.
Going down the road everything at the side of the road became a person that seem to be determined to cross the road. Had a quick nap on the bike for 5 mins then road home.
With 50k to get home, all that did the event will well understand how your count down those Ks only 24 to go Center of London, only 10 to go Croydon
only 5 to go Purley. The only difference was when i got home there was not a hive of activity just me and plenty of room to park my bike.
A good event with lots of memories.
Cycled up with Stubbo who when he set the pace all the other riders behind started to struggle ( I only thought I was helping taking my turn at the front) Quote.
Took a more Leisurly approach on the way home (if you can).
Good days ride with Greenbank, Leeg and Geraldc. A very plesant evening ride that turned into quite a long night ride as well.
Gerald have you smashed up your bike yet
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Did anyone get any photo's of one of the helpers at Coxwold (Lynn's daughter?) playing with her puppies?
;D ;D
Well Rich! You missed more than just Aimee playing with her puppies! But that is another story! Hope you got back safely x
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Just arrived home. Finished with Nuncio @19:45 yesterday. Remarkably few problems physically, other than an inflamed Achilles.
Just weighed myself and have managed to put on 3 lbs during the ride – down to gorging myself at the BRILLIANT controls. Huge thank you to all volunteers.
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Got a lift back from Ray Kelly.
Been home about an hour.
Ivo had still not returned when I left just before 1600.
Heroic helpers and riders...
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So who won ???
;)
YouTube - Hot Chocolate - Every 1's a winner 1978 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-GkwIRbLw8)
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Does anybody have any further news on the accident mentioned up thread? The fact that the police closed the road doesn't sound very promising.
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Back home at The Chateau after a night in the Cheshunt Travelodge and train home today.
Great ride. Stuck to the plan which is outlined elsewhere. Had extended stops for sleep at
5km after Middleton Tyas (~470km)
Dalkieth
5km before MT
Thurlby
rode with Warburton, Astana Jim, Mercury Mark, Andy, Scottish John and Mr Ed. mostly.
Highlight was Eskdalemuir to Dalkeith in the dark. Group stuck together on the climbs, much joking and fun. Great fast descents aided by vorsprungs Cyo. Saw a shooting star 'fall to earth'. Surprise secret control with whiskey. Ace.
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Well done stubbo! :thumbsup:
I thank you, its been emotional.
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Home slept and washed ( I think the rain did the rest of the washing during the week).
I now know how you were feeling Leeg. After I left you all at the hostel I needed to complete My Centre of London to Center of Edinburgh jolly.
Going down the road everything at the side of the road became a person that seem to be determined to cross the road. Had a quick nap on the bike for 5 mins then road home.
With 50k to get home, all that did the event will well understand how your count down those Ks only 24 to go Center of London, only 10 to go Croydon
only 5 to go Purley. The only difference was when i got home there was not a hive of activity just me and plenty of room to park my bike.
A good event with lots of memories.
Cycled up with Stubbo who when he set the pace all the other riders behind started to struggle ( I only thought I was helping taking my turn at the front) Quote.
Took a more Leisurly approach on the way home (if you can).
Good days ride with Greenbank, Leeg and Geraldc. A very plesant evening ride that turned into quite a long night ride as well.
Gerald have you smashed up your bike yet
Life of.. It was excellent riding up to dalkeith with yourself and Mark, glad to hear you made it back safe and sound and you managed to get your pic of Edinburgh castle, chapeau!
if you email me off line i'll send you the pic's.
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Astana Jim here - i'll change my name when i can sort it ;D
great ride - rode with MSeries etc
real highlight was as MS said - from Eskdalemuir - especially the secret at Traquair - all the staff there were wonderful - they were everywhere to be honest - but Ian and his bottle of whiskey, plus 2 bowls of porridge each - lovely. We called in on the way back too - had a massage on my dodgy right knee - which must have worked coz it only hurt a bit by the finish
didnt have much of a pla except to get as far as possible sun pm/ mon am - ideally Coxwold.
dont know if pressing on from Croxwold in the early hours of mon am was ideal - there was no room to sleep - but in hindsight it made the mon into Dalkeith a much shorter and easier ride
now where's my stash..................... 8)
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Does anybody have any further news on the accident mentioned up thread? The fact that the police closed the road doesn't sound very promising.
As I understand it...
Knocked out for 20 minutes but discharged home from A&E after a few hours.
Extensive road rash from shoulder to thigh one side of body.
Wife collected him from hospital and son drove him home to Derby.
Not pleasant and we wish him well but not as bad as some crashes.
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Oh that's a relief. Not nice, as you say, but he will live to ride another day.
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Any news on Arrabella and Swarm_Catcher?
H
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Who was the French TdF rider from the last century who buried his bike in the garden afterwards and never rode again? ;-)
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Any news on Arrabella and Swarm_Catcher?
H
Arabella finished in good time and seemed lucid today.
Post control haziness means I can't recall swarm_catcher's real name so not sure.
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Any news on Arrabella and Swarm_Catcher?
H
Arabella made it back in fine form at, I think, about 2:00am Friday morning. She is currently staying with me in Hackney awaiting the end of the train strike.
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Arabella finished in good time and seemed lucid today.
Post control haziness means I can't recall swarm_catcher's real name so not sure.
Arabella was lucid and going well at EskDM. I was pretty sure she'd be fine, but good to have it confirmed :)
Swarm_catcher= Els Vermoelen (sp)
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Arabella finished in good time and seemed lucid today.
Post control haziness means I can't recall swarm_catcher's real name so not sure.
Arabella was lucid and going well at EskDM. I was pretty sure she'd be fine, but good to have it confirmed :)
Swarm_catcher= Els Vermoelen (sp)
No real recollection of her, sorry.
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Thanks for the update on Arrabella, that's great news and I am truly chuffed for her.
Just Els/Swarn_Catcher to find out about.
H
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Through a mixture of luck and pure pigheadedness, Datameister is back in 115:05, inside the unadulterated time limit.
I had the luck of coming across Tony ('Drone' of this forum) at Alston on the way up, and was encouraged by him all the way home.
Top man!
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Thanks for the update on Arrabella, that's great news and I am truly chuffed for her.
Just Els/Swarn_Catcher to find out about.
H
Els finished well within time last night. I saw her in the bar just before last orders were called. She looked much better than I did.
Well done Els - brilliant.
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Great news :)
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Back home in a surprisingly good shape. I have finished after midnight for a total time of 106 hours and a bit. Thank you Greenbank for lending your bike to an unknown person. I have put faces on many yacfer, it was indeed a bit wet and windy at times but I suppose that one needs to deserve Scotland!
I will do a ride report later.
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Els finished well within time last night. I saw her in the bar just before last orders were called. She looked much better than I did.
Well done Els - brilliant.
Cheers Bez, great news.
H
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Just weighed myself and have managed to put on 3 lbs during the ride – down to gorging myself at the BRILLIANT controls. Huge thank you to all volunteers.
I put on about the same amount as well - as a way of losing weight this was a complete failure. Then again eating things like lentil soup and pasta for breakfast at 02:30 probably had something to do with it.
Consistently excellent food including a cheese omelette cooked to perfection at Dalkeith.
Words cannot express enough admiration and gratitude to the people manning and organising the controls.
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That was a fantastic experience.
Pretty close to the start I joined toontra, and rode all the rest with him, which was great. We had other riders along with us at times; peekay, a German chap (Raynor) and Dean.
Some bits were easy - the ride up North flew past. Some were hard - battling headwinds, pushing hard to maintain 20km/h on steep downhills, wind and rain in the dark on Yad Moss, the freezing cold of wind and rain heading between Thorne and our intended sleep stop at Washingborough knowing I had no more dry clothes.
I carried my lightweight sleeping bag around with me, which got used on three of the four nights. I do like having the comfort of my own bag, better than a blanket on the camp beds of Thorne or the church floor in Dalkeith.
One thing I really liked was seeing people and getting acknowledged on the road; it's a real lift to the spirits to see a rider you know coming towards you - a good feeling of being in this together. Special mention must go to jwo, who rode at almost exactly the same pace as us but arrived at controls as we were leaving (or vice-versa).
On the last 40km we managed to exactly pace the only thundercloud in the sky for 30 minutes or so. Torrential rain, even some hail, made a fitting end to an epic ride.
The after effects are pretty minimal; a bit sore on my sit bones, the palms of my hands are bruised (I found myself gripping the bars too tight on the freezing night ride), walking down stairs is still a challenge and I'm catching up on sleep.
There has to be a great big THANK YOU to all who worked so hard to make this happen. From the cheery waves of the moto patrols when in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night, to the big welcomes at all of the controls. Most of the controls completely exceeded what I expected, I do hope I managed to express sufficient gratitude to everyone as I worked my way around.
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Back home. These rides are easy without food poisoning. ;)
I've also set my Roberts up for PBP 2011 already:
(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm30/Dyffers/Robertswithdisc.jpg)
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I've also set my Roberts up for PBP 2011 already:
My wife has just told me that I have to enter PBP - because she fancies a trip to Paris!
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Well done to everyone who completed the ride. :thumbsup:
I was helping out at Washingborough plus a long stint at the Wragby checkpoint.
Hats off to the Italian who rode the event on a burrowed bike after his was stolen at the start. I wouln't fancy doing 1400k on a bike I'd just borrowed of some bloke down the pub.
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Well done to everyone who completed the ride. :thumbsup:
I was helping out at Washingborough plus a long stint at the Wragby checkpoint.
Hats off to the Italian who rode the event on a burrowed bike after his was stolen at the start. I wouln't fancy doing 1400k on a bike I'd just borrowed of some bloke down the pub.
Ah, that might explain the "Bike found by police" notice at Gamlingay. I hope it's his and he gets it back. :)
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Well done to everyone who completed the ride. :thumbsup:
I was helping out at Washingborough plus a long stint at the Wragby checkpoint.
Hats off to the Italian who rode the event on a burrowed bike after his was stolen at the start. I wouln't fancy doing 1400k on a bike I'd just borrowed of some bloke down the pub.
Ah, that might explain the "Bike found by police" notice at Gamlingay. I hope it's his and he gets it back. :)
Was it a Pinarello Prince that was stolen? I fixed a hire bike at Eskdalemuir for an Italian guy who told me his bike was missing. Great news that he made it.
Dave
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Finished this morning in 115 hours. Tough ride - rode some with Plodding Pedro, some with Scottlington ( and his mate )- including the epic from Traquir to EDM between midnight and 3am on Tuesday / Wednesday.
I am fairly sure that we were the last to leave Traquir ( having had 2 hours sleep ) before all others were advised that they would be completely mad to set off. Had been advised that EDM would not allow us to rest there as already overflowing - but had planned to just have second breakfast and carry on. HAH HAH - reality was oh so different.
Very difficult to distinguish road from overflowing river at times - actually frightening as I get dropped on the climbs - and if anything had gone wrong - I do not know how I would have coped - did have survival bag.
Will post about the other interesting experiences later -- but ALL staff at controls were absolutely brilliant - more than made up for the pre event muddles and general unhappiness.
Took a Berliner to Stansted cos of train probs.
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As jwo said, I got back about 2:30 this morning. Some good bits:
carrying a chain tool all those previous audax km so I could mend the chain when it fell apart at 5km into the ride
pushing on to EDM the first night in spite of the cold at ALston as the wind was friendly and the air got warmer as I descended (and rode with Russian whose derailleur hanger went, until said incident)
accepting the offer of $KindGent to sleep on his floor at Longtown Tues night & being lucky enough to get a camp bed on the other 3 nights
having Steve Poulton for a tow the first day and after Dalketith, I was able to return the favour on the last (Thorne on) leg.
Getting to practise my French/Italian/German/Russian (but his English was better)
Ace helpers at all the controls and the feeling that everybody personally wanted me personally to succeed
The mixed showers at Dalkeith, that little extra
porridge at Traquhair yummo, best porridge I've had for ages
pea-sized hailstones
the view from Lincoln ridge of forthcoming weather
my feet at Thorne on the way back (white and sodden, a night in a well heated room changed that!)
plastic bag+serviettes inside the sandals (cheap french supermarket ones) to keep feet warm for the last leg once I'd sent al the soggy socks back
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So glad you made it Arabella. I was pleased we met as we rolled out.
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I rode all the way with miniog, except for 5km solo back to the Washingborough control on the return after I'd checked my Carradice and realized I'd left my cash, cards and brevet card (and the greatest of these was the brevet card) on the table. I'd put all my eggs in one basket, as it were, on the assumption that not even a me would be foolish enough to forget those.
Back at about 19:45 last night. No alarms. No mechanicals. Equipment problems limited to dodgy bike computer contacts, and dynamo light not working at one point because of dodgy connectors - both fixed quickly. Body is fine. Knees no longer sore. Slight ache in right achilles. Heels of both palms a bit numb - probably as a result of riding so much more in the drops than I'm used to through a attitude of grim determination into the wind.
We made it to Alston just after the weather closed in so were fairly lucky. I kept being woken by the gales and hoping it would subside a bit before we started up Yad Moss - it did. Also worried about the less fortunate who were still out in those conditions.
Some nice dialogue from Paul D and †⊗ߥ as they were girding their loins in the 5:45am gloom and damp outside the Alston control:
P: Why are we doing this?
†: Well I've left my car at Lee Valley. Why are you doing it?
P: Level 4 on Mario didn't seem enough of a challenge any more.
Before this becomes a full ride report - what slick work at all the controls! Very much appreciated.
That makes it 7 LELs in total for the 2 Spooner brothers - a record of which I'm very proud. ;)
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Who was the French TdF rider from the last century who buried his bike in the garden afterwards and never rode again? ;-)
Brambilla, I think. Beaten by Robic on the very last day of the first post-WW2 TdF. The buried bike is legend but he certainly rode afterwards, riding randonnees in his retirement.
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I'd like to say (another) congratulations to all you tough and hardy riders for completing the ride under such atrocious conditions.
I think next year they should issue each rider with a paddle and sail, or better still, an outboard motor :D
Well done to you all :thumbsup:
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I think next year they should issue each rider with a paddle and sail, or better still, an outboard motor :D
Well, Don Black was using his traditional sail (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43017643@N00/3775422515/) up Yad Moss, but I don't think it helped much tacking into the headwind.
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...Just a bit of fun!
Blimey Andy! You okay? ;)
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I'm not usually a faffer and didn't realise the significance of the moment. Clearly missing this by a whisker will damage my cycling CV forever. However I'm glad it went to the Willesden. Rumour has it that we in the 167 are supposed to be the sworn enemies of the men in green. Forever in a constant battle for points, a true battle between north and south, but it's rubbish really. Just a bit of fun!
AC
AC - You're quite right, it's only ever been a bit of friendly rivalry. You did seem to be faffing at Middleton though otherwise we could have ridden the next stage together ;D.
I enjoyed the company of the Aiden & Steve tandem and Bob J on first day of LEL. Bob's knowledge of local roads was handy too!
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I'm not usually a faffer and didn't realise the significance of the moment. Clearly missing this by a whisker will damage my cycling CV forever. However I'm glad it went to the Willesden. Rumour has it that we in the 167 are supposed to be the sworn enemies of the men in green. Forever in a constant battle for points, a true battle between north and south, but it's rubbish really. Just a bit of fun!
AC
AC - You're quite right, it's only ever been a bit of friendly rivalry.
Agreed. The Willesden chaps with whom I have spent time on the road have been great company.
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Any news of Lady Vet (Margaret P) ?
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Any news of Lady Vet (Margaret P) ?
I think she packed but I don't know where.
Helped at LV (thanks!) for end of ride.
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Any news of Lady Vet (Margaret P) ?
Margaret stopped at Middleton Tyas. She had hurt her neck and was advised not to carry on. I saw her at the finnish and she was looking well there. Much more mobile than at Middleton Tyas.
Dave
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Any news of Lady Vet (Margaret P) ?
Margaret stopped at Middleton Tyas. She had hurt her neck and was advised not to carry on. I saw her at the finnish and she was looking well there. Much more moble than at Middleton Tyas.
Dave
That's right.
The sports therapist found her neck was 'solid'. Problem seemed much better when not riding.
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I finished in 114 1/4 hours. After riding from Eskdalemuir to Thorne on the return in 22h without sleeping I became very tired and slow. I went into pootle mode and visited a cafe in Gainsborough where I must have stopped for ages. Very nice it was too especially when I told the lady what I was up to - I got a free extra coffee. :thumbsup:
I was lucky with the weather on the return leg, the showers largely missed me, apart from just after the cafe at Gainsborough (it started as I was about to leave so I waited a bit and then pushed on). The feed sped me up a bit but I had a doze in the sun between a couple of controls. 30 mins sleep at Thurlby and a 5h stop at Gamlingay as I was really getting tired. It's very hard to leave warm controls when you feel sleepy, though the cold air outside wakes you up. I set off from Gamlingay full of energy, but the last 20km was very slow - all energy gone.
Have been sleeping from about 6.30 yesterday til about an hour ago, though I woke up at 6.30am. Put my eye shades from the ride on, and back to sleep. :thumbsup:
I now weigh 69.3kg.
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The whole thing was epic. From start to finish.
Massive thanks to the organisers and volunteers who made the whole thing possible.
Special thanks to Greenbank and Xavier who basically towed me round the final 24hrs.
Dumped some footage here YouTube - LEL 2009 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vng2S7gnKC0)
Will write more when I feel more coherent.
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Total injuries:
One small (2mm x 3mm) blister on inside of left thumb.
Sore palms of hands but fading quickly.
Lips slightly cracked due to the hailstorm outside Sleaford.
That's it. Knees fine, legs fine, no numbness. That bike must fit me.
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I have:
- ulnar nerve damage in both hands
- slight discomfort in one of my calf muscles
I am seriously considering getting on a bike today.
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i was rider 8 by the way - blonde hair, isle of mull cc top, hobbling when off the bike. Tweeted as island bakery.
See you next time!
Pilsbury, your biscuits are this: delicious!
Nom nom nom ;D
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does anyone have news of the two Canadians we helped get a replacement wheel at Eskdalemuir? They were pretty determined to finish despite losing around 10 hours while we waited for a bike shop to open.
They were numbers 552 and 553.
I suspect was John & Marjory Oneschuk (sp?), we heard they were still on the way when I left Loony Villas at 6 pm Friday. Well out of time, unfortunately, but presumably in no mood to quit after all that.
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In at 01:18 Friday (112hrs 18min) - an epic ride. Felt much better at the end than after PBP - able to walk around and carry on an (almost) coherent conversation. Now having to re-programme my brain, having spend most of the week speaking (bad) French with unplanned but excellent riding partner Josiane.
Treating my posterior to 2 days off the bike!
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Arabella finished in good time and seemed lucid today.
Post control haziness means I can't recall swarm_catcher's real name so not sure.
Arabella was lucid and going well at EskDM. I was pretty sure she'd be fine, but good to have it confirmed :)
Swarm_catcher= Els Vermoelen (sp)
Finished well in time - I remember stamping her card. Which is odd, considering the number of cards I stamped. My right wrist is now just about able to lift a bottle of BEER again ;D
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does anyone have news of the two Canadians we helped get a replacement wheel at Eskdalemuir? They were pretty determined to finish despite losing around 10 hours while we waited for a bike shop to open.
They were numbers 552 and 553.
I suspect was John & Marjory Oneschuk (sp?), we heard they were still on the way when I left Loony Villas at 6 pm Friday. Well out of time, unfortunately, but presumably in no mood to quit after all that.
That was them. They lost around 12 hours at Eskdalemuir as they had to wait for a bike shop to open and then get back and fit the wheel. And you've got their names correct.
Thanks for the update.
Dave
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Fantastic to read through the ride updates - it really gives a feel for what the ride was like. I got in 7.30pm Thursday in good spirits for 107 hrs. Rode some of the way with Bez, Joolz and richie but then separated from them and kept meeting them again at the controls. Also rode part of the way with Mike from North Carolina who I had last met/rode with on the last stage of PBP 2007. We had been seeing each other for a while but only when the eyes became puffy enough did we recognise each other!
I have to re-iterate the comments about the controls - each one was different; from the Scottish country charm of Traquair to the military precision of Washingborough but ALL were fantastic, helpers SO supportive - a huge thanks to them all.
In retrospect I made a couple of good decisions (not always the case!) the first was to push on from Eskdalemuir to Traquair where the floor space and my thermarest allowed a good kip (and the Glen Morangie with the porridge!); the second was to press on from Thorne to Washingborough where I arrived in time to secure both a shower and a camp bed.
The low point was being caught out in the open with no discernible shelter in the middle of a violent thunderstorm - man those hailstones really hurt!
The rail-strike forced a change of plan for returning home - but the pootle along the River Lee to Stamford, the trains to Kings X and from there to Ely and then to Norwich for a final 40k pootle home actually added to the fun.
There will be some epic stories to come out of this - heard the one about the US fixie rider who managed to bend his chainring in half?....
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Any news of VeloYellow (Martin Pearson) yet?
He looked finished on Monday night, but I saw him still rolling yesterday.
Finished in time - I remember him coz someone had borrowed his jacket at Coxwold and left it with us to return to its rightful owner.
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Chapeau then - I think he had a hard time.
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Morning readers. The latest report from the communications centre is at http://www.danialwebb.com/hrtml
Here at Thorne, we have a few volunteers enjoying the sunshine, reading books, chatting and waiting for riders to come through. All is well.
Glad you had time for a break, we at Middleton Tyas had a break of about two hours only.
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Just back from a 19-hour shift at Middleton Tyas.
Saw a few of our lot there, but JBB and I were too busy to mark people off. Saw Chris N a couple of hours ago, looking pretty fresh (I assume it was Chris N, cos he was wearing a black yacf top and someone called him Chris N*****).
Saw Hummers and John Spooner a lot earlier - I was a little starstruck when I registered rider 001, and said something like "Wow! You're John Spooner!". Couldn't even stop for a piss when they were in, it was that busy, so I didn't have chance to introduce myself. We were about an hour behind with feeding people.
Ah, I've realised I saw (and fed) arallsop at about the same time as Chris N was in. He disguises his identity too cunningly for me. He seemed pretty fresh, especially considering the backstory!
Chatted to an Aussie bloke riding fixed who I think may have been Sandy V's husband. Top bloke, either way.
Andy C could have been the first Brit through the control - he was the first Brit to arrive, but he faffed about in the entry, and a lad from Willesden Wheelers got in ahead of him. That was about 5.45 am. He was flying. MSeries and Warburton arrived about three quarters of an hour later, looking remarkably fresh for people who'd ridden 470 miles in 21 hours without sleep. They even beat Bob to the control, which was a first for MSeries.
I had a great time - there was an amazing wealth of cycling experience at the control, and smashing company. I wish I didn't have to go back to work :(
It was amazing, and a bit sad, that apart from Peter Ralph and I, everyone at the control had come from miles away. Chapeau to them for answering the call.
Photos to follow...
actually the 45 min wait lasted less than an hour before immediate service resumed and that was the one and only delay for the duration. everything ran smoothly even though the dish washer broke down and we had floods in the kitchen.
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Morning readers. The latest report from the communications centre is at http://www.danialwebb.com/hrtml
Here at Thorne, we have a few volunteers enjoying the sunshine, reading books, chatting and waiting for riders to come through. All is well.
Glad you had time for a break, we at Middleton Tyas had a break of about two hours only.
In many respects, I wish we'd had no break either. We were ready for the return wave before the last few riders passed through north. It was hard to keep people geared up, especially when the returning riders were delayed.
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At LV (south) Arabella introduced me to Helen, who I assume is "Helen" at YACF.
She had a "Shermers" Neck brace on, but was in good spirits after getting back OK and in time.
[haven't seen her mentioned here yet].
Even older news:
I passed almost every YACF rider in the hills south of Edinburgh. This was quite cheering as I was on my own and getting increasingly nervous about the day to come. All the south-bound riders had huge quantities of clothing on, which made me fear the headwind all the more! I stopped twice to chat - if I'd just spent 2 mins chatting to every YACFer on that stretch I would have finsihed OOT! Arabella stopped - looking OK, but slightly manic! Stephen Poulton then appeared ( probably wondering why we were pi55ing away vital seconds.)
Before that I met LadyVet _just_ before the descent into EDM. She sounded a bit low, but probably picked up in the heavenly EDM kitchen.
Shouted at Greenbank at 35mph. He was stopped with a group of about 9, 2 of them faffing. it looked like they were all scared of a little bit of headwind ;)
I _think_ damon was the last YACFer past me, not sure.
Postie was looking like he was still thinking about That Notice 70 miles back.
(Did Arabella really say EDM (633km) on the first night?!?)
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Matt C is in :)
No longer can claim Lanterne rouge..
That's good to hear. I lost him at Gamlingay control this morning which was a shame as it would have been fun to do the last 60 together, after riding most of Tranquire to there with him.
Hi RobM!
Read your note at breakfast - very thoughtful :)
MV:
Kind words, thanks. But to clarify ... I think I'm still []ACF lanterne rouge on 2 out of 2 'Spooners'. Hopefully someone will correct me if wrong!
Finished 15 mins inside the 'real' limit. (But even this is slightly false modesty, as I did spend 10hrs at a B&B Mon night.)
I know everyone is being very British about knocking off this 'short ride round some cafes', but I am, like, utterly stoked, dude. PBP was a very heavy burden.
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(Did Arabella really say EDM (633km) on the first night?!?)
Mon night (2nd). Saw her at breakfast.
Rob
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I've realised I saw (and fed) arallsopp at about the same time as Chris N was in. He disguises his identity too cunningly for me. He seemed pretty fresh, especially considering the backstory!
My deepest thanks to you. I was likely dressed as the cycle ninja at the time I passed. Black base layer. Black longs. I added black gloves for the night/cold bits.
Was feeling pretty good as I pulled out from MT. Full of food, and reassured that I'd made up some of the time lost scooting to Thurlby. :)
Cheers for the nosh:)
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I know everyone is being very British about knocking off this 'short ride round some cafes', but I am, like, utterly stoked, dude. PBP was a very heavy burden.
I was really chuffed that you finished, following PBP. That must be a demon put to bed.
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Saw Chris N a couple of hours ago, looking pretty fresh (I assume it was Chris N, cos he was wearing a black yacf top and someone called him Chris N*****).
Probably was me - I did see your yacf buff and name tag, but by the time I'd worked out who it might be you'd disappeared. Sorry not to have said hello!
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It was a very lonely ride
started in one of the last startgroups on sunday afternoon after volunteering at the start for the full sunday and monday early morning. After starting I sensed that my head was empty, too much stress at the start. It lasted untill Thorne to go into cycling mode. I had missed a lot of sleep due to controlling duties so I was forced to sleep at Washingborough. By the time I was in Coxwold I was firmly at the back of the pack. Kept on plodding to the return and back. A few lucky strokes though, calm wind and a bit of sun while leaving Dalkeith, a tailwind going up Yad Moss. And finally one of the Coxwold controllers leaving the control for home via Thorne as I was leaving. He pulled me back into the ride. Had regained a chance to finish inside the limit. But only If I could ride through the 2nd night. That proved impossible so I finished about 6-7 hours outside of the original timelimit
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Should have mentioned that Ivo and Daniela spent the whole of Saturday dishing out Stuffs at registrating, and Corinna was similarly engaged in providing basic sustenance from the sauna1 that was the kitchen of Broxbourne Lodge.
And then went off to do the ride the next day :o
1 - Tea-urn no workee. So electric kettle boiling. All. The. Time.
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Fed, watered , rested and massaged and time to reflect.
May still get facts wrong as brain deadness and blurred memory continues - so sorry for factual errors and to all the great people I rode with , and maybe talked to - who do not get a mention, my apologies.
Interesting bits
Met Rogerzilla at Alston, and Malvolio at EDM - both doing great work at the controls - 2 key YACF members who I dont think I had bumped into before.
Both Gregorys atThurlby -with a discussion about the validity of adding hours on to time ( I do not agree with this as a general decision but would support some ad on for those ( and only those )who could not leave a control for safety reasons
In fact the truth is that all the volunteers at controls were brilliant.
memorable points at controls - Traquir's porridge and malt whisky, Dalkeith - hot shower, Alston the staff downstairs room ( and its en suite )being given to riders - and I was lucky enough to get 1 of the 3 beds. Coxwolds cooking suited me- and I was fortunate enough to get a quiet sleep in the nerve centre. Mind you this also highlighted for me - the amazing requests and problems that we threw at the volunteers -- can I have a pillow ( what the F*** is that about) - where is rider xxx his bike is still outside but I can not find him ( my answer would have been how the sugar do I know - but Coxwold tried to help, apparently he had just gone for a walk), do you know that the returning bag drop van has just taken the front fascia board off the village hall -- what do we need to do and will it be an insurance claim? MT - I think it was who provided a menu to tick and then brought the plate of goodies to your table. EDM where 2 lovely ladies found blankets for me when the very very bedraggled group of 3 arrived at 3.00a.m. ish and EDM were very concerned to help us avoid hypothermia.
The Mayor at the finish - a welcome sight -- and that word triggers another memory a few civilised words and a welcome from a gentleman with a chain of office - I called him Mayor - but I think he was just Chair - now where was that -- it was daylight - was it Coxwold going North.
The Norfolk team and their soup - coming S at Washingborough.
People I rode with or talked to - Plodding Pedro - I was impressed by his invective at an errant car driver who nearly took us out on a Yorkshire lane. RobM , SimonP , Scottlington + friend ( Tim? ) - we did get it wrong to leave Traquir at midnight on Tuesday - vice versa it has provided a lasting memory for me - Arabella,
Bron ( ?) who I finished with - and swopped stories on how we came to be doing such an odd thing as riding LEL. At least 2 Alans (I think, including a VC one)
MattC who got hitched up on roads I knew going to Gamlingay - but then opted to defend his lantern position by not leaving Gam until later than I did.
Most memorable events - Traquir to EDM - midnight to 3 am Tues and that storm rain and wind - once you have done most of the first ascent - you are virtually committed to going on - after all why turn back now - and reclimb again later - but it was the worst 3 hours weather that I have ever been out in when doing something physical. Very worrying at times as I considered some of the possible things that might go wrong - in fact I lost control of bike on a cattle grid - but thank god - it was an uphill one - I came to rest upright on the verge - and I could hear the river crashing and booming not far below me -how far below - not sure - but it could have been a very nasty accident as i would have been absolutely unfindable until daylight at least.
One hours sleep in the pub car park at Great Gidding at midnight on Thursday ( on way to Gam ) I now realise that it is possible to fall asleep on a bike - but the mental picture of 3 blokes lying under a low pub wall on a survival bag is a distinctive one for me -- wow - was it cold - but I still slept a bit.
I wish I had an e-mail address for each of the Controllers as I would like to say "Thank You so much"
Final thought - who is responsible for coordinating constructive comments from all involved to make LEL better in 2013 ( and to learn from harsh criticism too)
Roger
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Final thought - who is responsible for coordinating constructive comments from all involved to make LEL better in 2013 ( and to learn from harsh criticism too)
Roger
In 2005 we were invited to complete a questionaire afterwards to put forth comments. I hope there will be one this time.
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Final thought - who is responsible for coordinating constructive comments from all involved to make LEL better in 2013 ( and to learn from harsh criticism too)
Roger
In 2005 we were invited to complete a questionaire afterwards to put forth comments. I hope there will be one this time.
+1. I can haz a few ideas...
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mmm
and me.
Maybe we could start a thread on here to get thoughts whilst the iron is still warmish.
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i am certain that I would not want to put on public record harsh criticism
Constructive comment - of course - but the criticism altho intended to be helpful has to be confidential
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yes - good point.
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I think we need an anonymous suggestion box. Posters should be untraceable. I don't know how such a thing could be set up. (Some techno-wiard may be along shortly...)
Ideally access to it might be restricted to riders, helpers and controllers.
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A crude method for on here could be a new username to which people could pm comments to.
I wouldn't mind attaching my name/rider number to my comments to be sent to an 'official', just not for all and sundry to read on here.
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A crude method for on here could be a new username to which people could pm comments to.
I wouldn't mind attaching my name/rider number to my comments to be sent to an 'official', just not for all and sundry to read on here.
Good thinking.
Look for a new member coming real soon.
I feel somewhat guilty sitting around LV doing little. My hands packed up on Thursday, leaving me unable even towrite an initial and the interwebs collapsed too, meaning I couldn't communicate with the Outside World. Such is life. Still, I managed to boost Mel's flagging spirit at times so maybe I had some function.
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I feel somewhat guilty sitting around LV doing little. My hands packed up on Thursday, leaving me unable even towrite an initial and the interwebs collapsed too, meaning I couldn't communicate with the Outside World. Such is life. Still, I managed to boost Mel's flagging spirit at times so maybe I had some function.
Helen, don't be a ["twit" - The Invigilator]. Without your efforts at playing the Babbage-Engine, we'd have known 2/3 * 4/5 * SFA even less than we did.
Noise off: Go to bed, Mr L...
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has anyone seen or does anyone know of the whereabouts of the Berliners Ralf, Nicole, Klaus and Ingo?
Better late than never but if Nicole was the very lovely Nicole Kretschmer, then I think she was a DNF on Thursday night, and was still hanging around Loony Villas up until mid-afternoon Friday.
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With retrospect, I should have bought a week's worth of Loony Villas' extortionate Wifi.
I are setting up a Suggestion Box new account here; look for a new member tomorrow (it's awaiting approval right now).
I am thick-skinned enough to take personal comments. i
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With retrospect, I should have bought a week's worth of Loony Villas' extortionate Wifi.
I are setting up a Suggestion Box new account here; look for a new member tomorrow (it's awaiting approval right now).
I am thick-skinned enough to take personal comments. i
I've had an e-mail notification of a "New Topic - LEL- comments on the event and ideas for next time" but the topic doesn't appear in the LEL list and the link produces the message: "An error has occurred. The topic or board you are looking for appears to be either missing or off limits to you."
Is this connected?
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but it could have been a very nasty accident as i would have been absolutely unfindable until daylight at least
And quite probably no more, in those conditions.
For my part, I was back into EDM for 6pm Tues (return leg) so I'd only had the wind to contend with - which was enough! I grabbed some sleep and was about to head out again when I was advised that it was a seriously silly idea. I hung around until around 4am and then headed of... during which time there were some seriously wet, cold and disorientated riders coming in to EDM. And chatting to the motorcycle guy later, a couple of riders were pulled off the Dalkeith to EDM road that night for their own safety. Make no mistake people, the potential for the wrong headlines was there, and too close for some.
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For my part, I was back into EDM for 6pm Tues (return leg) so I'd only had the wind to contend with - which was enough! I grabbed some sleep and was about to head out again when I was advised that it was a seriously silly idea. I hung around until around 4am and then headed of...
Toby & I also got back to Esk at 1800 tuesday. Slept until 2100 hoping darkness would knock the breeze down a bit, but instead the rain started. We did leave by 2230 and although we had a throough soaking the ride to Alston wasn't the worst I've ever done. Psychologically it wouldn't have been good for me to sit at Esk til 4am!
Edit: You're not Paul are you, that was going to come with us but changed his mind?
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In my head, I had packed at that point after the wet/windy slog to EDM. Thanks to PaulD for telling me not to :thumbsup:
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Toby & I also got back to Esk at 1800 tuesday. Slept until 2100 hoping darkness would knock the breeze down a bit, but instead the rain started. We did leave by 2230 and although we had a throough soaking the ride to Alston wasn't the worst I've ever done. Psychologically it wouldn't have been good for me to sit at Esk til 4am!
Similar to what we did. Got to Esk at 7.30pm and sat around hoping it would die down. At 10pm got bored of waiting and set off. Didn't take long for you and Toby to overtake us...
We were shielded from the wind on some parts of the ride to Langholm but we did get an absolutely thorough soaking, but by keeping going I was toasty warm and felt better and more comfortable than I did sitting inside the hall at Eskdalemuir, desite that monster heater.
Once out of the Eskdalemuir micro-climate it was fine. From Langholm to Alston we only got rained on for a couple of minutes at most. I got the dozies badly on the A7 (should have slept at Eskdalemuir rather than sitting around chatting) and eventually had to have a roadside sleep in Brampton. Got to Alston at 6am, had some food and then slept for a further 3 hours in a bed.
[EDIT] 77.2kg this morning. Lowest I've ever seen on the scales for a long time.
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Coxwolds cooking suited me- and I was fortunate enough to get a quiet sleep in the nerve centre. Mind you this also highlighted for me - the amazing requests and problems that we threw at the volunteers -- can I have a pillow ( what the F*** is that about) - where is rider xxx his bike is still outside but I can not find him ( my answer would have been how the sugar do I know - but Coxwold tried to help, apparently he had just gone for a walk), do you know that the returning bag drop van has just taken the front fascia board off the village hall -- what do we need to do and will it be an insurance claim?
another memory a few civilised words and a welcome from a gentleman with a chain of office - I called him Mayor - but I think he was just Chair - now where was that -- it was daylight - was it Coxwold going North.
I wish I had an e-mail address for each of the Controllers as I would like to say "Thank You so much"
Final thought - who is responsible for coordinating constructive comments from all involved to make LEL better in 2013 ( and to learn from harsh criticism too)
Roger
Roger, hope you are well, It was nice to let you spend some time in my control room, think you needed a bit of TLC and with no room in the Inn and being one of ChrisS's friends, it made sense. But...Shhhhhh, don't tell anyone you got special treatment. ;)
What a night that was mind! Yes fascia boards, lost cyclist etc, and Chris and I sat there so knackered that nothing seemed to suprise us! Some riders seemed to sleep more than us, I could have had more but I felt a sense of responsibility and concern for the riders that it was hard to switch off.
Yes, it was Coxwold that you met the Chair of the council, it is on the Hambleton Council homepage but the press release is not accurate at all!
:)
I can supply you with a few email address' if you would like them, PM me and I will let you have them. :thumbsup:
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Should have mentioned that Ivo and Daniela spent the whole of Saturday dishing out Stuffs at registrating, and Corinna was similarly engaged in providing basic sustenance from the sauna1 that was the kitchen of Broxbourne Lodge.
I guess I should work on pronouncing my name more clearly: It's Gabriele / Jedrik
And btw: It's been a pleasure to work with the team (I might even volunteer if I can't ride 2013) and to meet a lot of others who had only been nicks onto then. I might even match faces to all nicks and names once I'm back to normal. ;)
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actually the 45 min wait lasted less than an hour before immediate service resumed and that was the one and only delay for the duration. everything ran smoothly even though the dish washer broke down and we had floods in the kitchen.
Hi Anna!
Aye, your dad had everything running pretty smoothly. Twas a pleasure to be there, really.
I did get a bit annoyed with one foreign rider, cos whatever number I shouted out when I was playing waiter, he would leap up with the most hopeful expression on his face, and telling him for the third time that he would have to wait a leetle longer for his grub felt like kicking a puppy. I think I managed to maintain my equilibrium, though.
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Psychologically it wouldn't have been good for me to sit at Esk til 4am!
Edit: You're not Paul are you, that was going to come with us but changed his mind?
Nope, I'm not Paul. I was of a mind to head out myself, the controllers persuaded me otherwise.
As it happens, it pretty nearly scuppered my LEL. I was at Esk for around 10 hours! I went from a position of being comfortable for time to chasing it. Them's the breaks I guess and I'm not complaining. In retrospect, I probably should have decided to head off to Alston rather than grab some kip... but that's the benefit of hindsight!
On the plus side, I had an excellent 3 hours in the company of Todd from San Francisco and his Canadian riding buddy, whose name I never asked. Some genuine belly laughs in the face of adversity!
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Hats off to the Italian who rode the event on a burrowed bike after his was stolen at the start. I wouln't fancy doing 1400k on a bike I'd just borrowed of some bloke down the pub.
Carlos is now a big 'EROE in Italy. Here is how it was reported on audaxitalia.it (http://www.audaxitalia.com/randonee_piazza/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=597&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=15#p6181). You don't need to understand Italian to get the gist - let's just say that the style might not have gone down too well at a former place.
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Remarkable how a few emoticons supplant need for much language.
I am familiar with the hand gesticulations for which the Italians are famed. Smileys are truly international...
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It's remarkable that Italian,above all other languages,seems to sing inside your head as you read it :)
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Carlos is now a big 'EROE in Italy. Here is how it was reported on audaxitalia.it (http://www.audaxitalia.com/randonee_piazza/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=597&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=15#p6181). You don't need to understand Italian to get the gist - let's just say that the style might not have gone down too well at a former place.
It's nice that those kids took the time to create a webcomic about their dads' antics.
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I met the fast Italians on their way back down on Monday night :o
Virtually all the LEL riders I met were terribly polite - I spoke to Dutch, French, German, American, Canadian, Australian people and even one of the three (?) Japanese riders. I was a bit miffed that one Italian support crew (in very obvious non-cycling gear) were also availing themselves of the free food, but quel che sarà.
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I expect that the stats will show that the Italians had a very high rate of success. For many, if not all of them, LEL was the 3rd leg of the "Granbrevetto randonnee europe challenge" (PBP, 1001 Miglia, LEL), and having coped with PBP and 1001 Miglia, they were able to cope with any challenges LEL provided with weather or terrain. That was certainly true of the group of Italians I had the privilege of riding with for most of the route.
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Did anyone ride with the German guy on the homebrew FWD recumbent? That was a fearsome machine - it was welded up from square-section tubing, which must have been very thick-walled because it had just been left unpainted, Angel-Of-The-North style. Maybe it was HSLA steel.
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Did anyone ride with the German guy on the homebrew FWD recumbent? That was a fearsome machine - it was welded up from square-section tubing, which must have been very thick-walled because it had just been left unpainted, Angel-Of-The-North style. Maybe it was HSLA steel.
A genuine 'rustbucket', you might say.
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I've just had my missing Canadians contact me, they finished out of time but collected receipts for proof of passage after Thorne.
Can they make a claim for finishing with extenuating circumstances? How would they do that?
Dave
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Did anyone ride with the German guy on the homebrew FWD recumbent? That was a fearsome machine - it was welded up from square-section tubing, which must have been very thick-walled because it had just been left unpainted, Angel-Of-The-North style. Maybe it was HSLA steel.
A genuine 'rustbucket', you might say.
You mean this one? Rich Forest put a photo (http://twitpic.com/bkdvw) on twitter at registration time.
Apparently the German rider was subsequently nicknamed 'Garry Von Broad' by Mr-up-to-no-good-Larrington. Yes, I know, I'm as mystified as you are :)
The important thing is though: did he get round ok? The photo's a bit grainy, but in the best tradition of German engineering, it looks like it's built to cope with everything that was thrown at it.
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I just want to say a big thank you to all the volunteers. Every one was so helpful and cheerful.(I especially enjoyed the VIP treatment I got at Coxwold).
Great to put faces to some of the names.
A fantastic ride despite having my face jet washed en route to EDM.
Only problem now is I can't stop eating.
I was the VC rider you rode with Figitbuzz, not Alan but Andy.
Thanks also to Tomsk for your company up to Coxwold.
Most amazing thing was an 8foot long 5" diameter branch that blew off a tree in Lincoln and missed my riding mate Mark by inches. The leaves actually brushed against him :o
Andy
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I just want to say a big thank you to all the volunteers. Every one was so helpful and cheerful.(I especially enjoyed the VIP treatment I got at Coxwold).
Great to put faces to some of the names.
A fantastic ride despite having my face jet washed en route to EDM.
Only problem now is I can't stop eating.
I was the VC rider you rode with Figitbuzz, not Alan but Andy.
Thanks also to Tomsk for your company up to Coxwold.
Most amazing thing was an 8foot long 5" diameter branch that blew off a tree in Lincoln and missed my riding mate Mark by inches. The leaves actually brushed against him :o
Andy
It's Handy Andy! How are the wheels doing ;D
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Did anyone ride with the German guy on the homebrew FWD recumbent? That was a fearsome machine - it was welded up from square-section tubing, which must have been very thick-walled because it had just been left unpainted, Angel-Of-The-North style. Maybe it was HSLA steel.
A genuine 'rustbucket', you might say.
You mean this one? Rich Forest put a photo (http://twitpic.com/bkdvw) on twitter at registration time.
That's the one. He also had a little German flag at the back when I saw him, and said he can only ride 'bents and "town bikes" because of fused vertebrae in his neck, or something that doesn't translate easily.
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I rode a stage with him. He's awful fast, but very entertaining. Every time he got in front, I was treated to a view of the least lightweight looking luggage solution in the fleet. Couldn't work out if it was a medium sized suitcase, or a very large laptop bag, but neither would have been on my immediate list for "things I will add to a very heavy bike before towing it up Yad Moss".
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I got some photos of it:-
(http://www.greenbank.org/audax/lel2009/IMG_0210.JPG)
and
(http://www.greenbank.org/audax/lel2009/IMG_0211.JPG)
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To me that's just hideous.
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Who was the 'Giro domestique' riding? Or did I imagine that ...
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Morning all. Sorry, just catching up on this thread. Ah the memories come flooding back now.
P.P.P.S. Apart from the Cataloonies, the final riders off the line were a long-haired Scouser and Recumbent Bloke Who Turned Up At The Start In The Wrong Shoes. Frantic Police-Camera-Action-stylee transport of shoes from Bromley to Cheshunt ensues.
Yep. That were me:D. Arrived at LV with plenty of time before my ~1400hrs start with family in tow. With less than an hour to go, I popped into the loos for a sec, and was surprised to hear the cleats of another rider on the tiled floor. Why aren't I making that noise? Oh SH!T!
Cue me left holding the baby (and entertaining the in laws) whilst wife and friend dash home to grab correct footwear. They got back at 1443hrs, in a splendid 'pull up fast, brake late' screech across the starting line. Never seen a car applauded by cyclists before. Most entertaining.
Long-haired-scouse-bloke didn't get much mileage out of me I'm afraid. I was following my GPS, and he was happily following me when my chain idler pinged off. Before he could head off alone, we spent 5-10 minutes trying to work out where on the paper sheet we actually were. Answer, less than 10 miles in. :(
Any recent news of arollsopp? Is he still homewood bound with zip ties ?
He hasn't updated on his facebook, would love to know any news of him!
Yes, I was still headed south. Data services ran out oop north, then I was on emergency power, and finally my phone was submerged on the road/river up to Eskdalemuir. Sorry about the lack of comms. :)
Looks like about 75 DNFs; arrelsop wasn't amongst them as of 10 am today
Any news on recumbent Andy?
I was on and off the DNF list from Gamlingay. Impression received by long-haired-scouse-bloke was that the bike was unrideable. This was true for the next 10 km at least, but (approximately) normal operations were resumed shortly after with the assistance of YACFers and their remote techspertise. Special thanks to G von B, and all who posted their support / interest / concern. :D
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I got some photos of it:-
(http://www.greenbank.org/audax/lel2009/IMG_0210.JPG)
and
(http://www.greenbank.org/audax/lel2009/IMG_0211.JPG)
Excellent!
H
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To me that's just hideous.
Oh I dunno. I do like to see a bit of rust on a bike. I get this warm glow come over me :)
Does anybody know his real name? Contact email?
Traction can be a problem in bad weather with FWD recumbents. The ones I've had weren't too bad but there was still evidence of it. I'd be very interested to see how he got on during LEL. Ideal conditions!
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Traction can be a problem in bad weather with FWD recumbents. The ones I've had weren't too bad but there was still evidence of it. I'd be very interested to see how he got on during LEL. Ideal conditions!
There was a Belgian rider on a Raptobike too - I saw him on the climb out of Eskdalemuir and again around Sleaford, so he must have been coping with the conditions ok.
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Isn't that "lack of traction" an urban myth around FWD bikes?
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Isn't that "lack of traction" an urban myth around FWD bikes?
I've suffered from lack of traction several times on an upright on a steep wet climb where I've been out of the saddle (can't climb seated on fixed when it gets steep). I can easily imagine it happening on a FWD recumbent.
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Isn't that "lack of traction" an urban myth around FWD bikes?
I've suffered from lack of traction several times on an upright on a steep wet climb where I've been out of the saddle (can't climb seated on fixed when it gets steep). I can easily imagine it happening on a FWD recumbent.
Well yes, obv. What I meant is the myth that traction is much worse on an FWD than on an RWD. This from Mike Burrows and the Raptobike manufacturer, both biased, but to me believable. Having not personally ridden an FWD in testing conditions, only on wet flat roads at Mike's factory.
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The rear wheel will always have more weight on it that then front and, therefore, be more susceptible to loss of traction.
It doesn't take much; consider the differences on an upright when seated and honking:
Seated: weight mainly on saddle a few inches behind the BB but high up.
Honking: weight mainly on the leading pedal forward of the BB, but 10% probably on the handlebars.
So it depends on the weight distrubtion of the bent in question. If it's 50:50 then you'll be fine. If it's 60:40 (in favour of the rear) then you might have problems with FWD up steep slopes.
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Isn't that "lack of traction" an urban myth around FWD bikes?
I've suffered from lack of traction several times on an upright on a steep wet climb where I've been out of the saddle (can't climb seated on fixed when it gets steep). I can easily imagine it happening on a FWD recumbent.
What I meant is the myth that traction is much worse on an FWD than on an RWD.
Generally speaking FWD is no problem at all, really isn't. It's only when conditions get wet and you're climbing that FWD can often lose traction more easily than RWD, due to front wheels being less loaded than rear ones[generally speaking]. I did the Upper Thames 200 last year [November weather] on a dual 26" thingie, and it was mostly fine, but I did have instances of the odd slip coming back over the Chilterns. It's the combination of wet roads, few leaves scattered around & climbing that can be the problem. Can be a bit unnerving.
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Oh yes, just remembered:-
The first part of LEL was my fastest ever 100, 200 (sub 9 hour), 300 and 400 (despite a 6 hour break at Thorne!).
:)
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Who was the 'Giro domestique' riding? Or did I imagine that ...
I heard that rumour too, so not your imagination. Whether it's true or not, I have no idea...
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Who was the 'Giro domestique' riding? Or did I imagine that ...
I heard that rumour too, so not your imagination. Whether it's true or not, I have no idea...
I heard it from Mark Brooking, and he wouldn't tell porkies.
Would he?
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Did the American girl Michelle Dulieu arrive safely at LV?
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Did the American girl Michelle Dulieu arrive safely at LV?
Yes. I saw her at LV before I got picked up at 6am so she definitely made it in time (not entirely sure as I was half asleep but she probably even made it before the 4.40am "deadline" so no need for extra 2 hours or start time to be taken into account).
Apart from the comedy at Alston lunchtime (going Northbound) I also rode most of the section from Traquair to Eskdalemuir with her. She then had a good long sleep at Eskdalemuir rather than trying to battle against the weather; brave for an 8am starter but it paid off in the end.
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Super. I rode Tintineac to Fougeres inbound with her and Mike Seager in 2003. Very determined lady. Had a real belly laugh at Alston when she asked for veggie food and was offered Ravioli and Cottage pie.
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I rode with her from Gamlingay to Thurlby going north. At that stage she was going pretty fast and was good company. I noticed that at Thurlby she just glugged some sports carbo powder in her drink and then shot off. Not sure I could have done that, especially with the offer of strawberries and cream at the control.
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At LV she was asking everyone if they managed to cycle up the cobbles in Alston. She was very pleased that not only did she cycle up the cobbles but that she caused a minor traffic jam in the town as the cars had to wait for her to ascend.
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Doing that was bloody hard work - I did it sat down on the saddle to avoid any risk of wheel spin, which meant a steady 270W. Having already done about 900km I was frankly amazed I could do that.
She was around on the Coxwold->Thorne night section I did, as a group had formed around me which got bigger as people realised I had gps. Bunch of Canadian and American blokes as well, who left me a nice note in my saddle bag when they had to push on because of being on the morning start.
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Did the American girl Michelle Dulieu arrive safely at LV?
Yes.
Spent much time chatting in Friday's small hours.
She was due to stay with her grandmother somewhere in London.
Friday's train strike and general exhaustion meant she decided to stay at LV on Friday.
I suggested she use LV's laundry facilities to pass the time.
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.... as a group had formed around me which got bigger as people realised I had gps. Bunch of Canadian and American blokes as well, who left me a nice note in my saddle bag when they had to push on because of being on the morning start.
Dear Limey,
Thanks for the GPS.
Good luck finding your way back.
The Yanks.
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.... as a group had formed around me which got bigger as people realised I had gps. Bunch of Canadian and American blokes as well, who left me a nice note in my saddle bag when they had to push on because of being on the morning start.
Dear Limey,
Thanks for the GPS.
Good luck finding your way back.
The Yanks.
Nah they were really nice and good company in the dark. Put up with my getting slower and slower as I'd been on the road since 6.45am from Eskdalemuir. It was one of very few sections after Alston northbound on which I had any company at all!
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Similarly the notional ban on recharging items at the controls turned out to be a nonsense. I rode with an Australian who had got his pass granted by his wife on the understanding he rung regularly to tell her he was safe which only seems right. To do this he needed to charge his phone at Dalkeith where sockets were in abundance.
Next time we need to make less petty rules but give people what "they" wan't.
In simple terms promises were made and not fulfilled, rules were made and not enforced. So why do either? Rather listen to what people want (not what you "think" they want or should have) and endevour to provide it.
It might be just a bike ride but the riders and helpers are after all the "customers".
AC
the charging ban was ebtirely reasonable. If 100 riders had all turned up at a control wanting to charge up lights phones etc then it would have been chaos. Hence the policy was to say no in advance. Which is why I used a dynamo and a backup light with a max run time of 20h. For the phone I took along an external power pack which can charge it twice. However due to tiredness i forgot to use it on the second visit to alston but was lucky to find chargers at a cafe and at gamlingay. However I made my plans on the basis that i would not need to do this.
Istm that the controllers tried very hard to meet people's needs - but expectations do need to be reasonable. If I could not have charged the phone then i would have turned it off to save it for emergencies. No-one could say I wasn't warned.
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I met the fast Italians on their way back down on Monday night :o
Virtually all the LEL riders I met were terribly polite - I spoke to Dutch, French, German, American, Canadian, Australian people and even one of the three (2?) Japanese riders. I was a bit miffed that one Italian support crew (in very obvious non-cycling gear) were also availing themselves of the free food, but quel che sarà.
Does it really matter if an odd Italian ate a bite of food. They brought 80 riders to the event & none of the support crew caused chaos rather they helped smooth out issues and problems at the controls. Lot's of food went to waste or in the case of Coxwold to the homeless. Some controls allowed helpers to eat for a fee. FWIW at PBP helpers are fed provided riders always go to the front of the queue
Similarly the notional ban on recharging items at the controls turned out to be a nonsense. I rode with an Australian who had got his pass granted by his wife on the understanding he rung regularly to tell her he was safe which only seems right. To do this he needed to charge his phone at Dalkeith where sockets were in abundance.
Next time we need to make less petty rules but give people what "they" wan't.
In simple terms promises were made and not fulfilled, rules were made and not enforced. So why do either? Rather listen to what people want (not what you "think" they want or should have) and endevour to provide it.
It might be just a bike ride but the riders and helpers are after all the "customers".
AC
While a number of the support crewe came into EDM, I don't think any of them availed themselves of food. Coffee maybe, but that's hardly a hanging offence.
At EDM we had very few requests to recharge batteries, and generally we did not object. We only had one difficult instance, where we found we had two identical units charging next to each other! I believe the (overseas) owners sorted it out.
Did anyone get reprimanded or worse over not wearing the reflective anklets? Quite a few were left at EDM.
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Similarly the notional ban on recharging items at the controls turned out to be a nonsense. I rode with an Australian who had got his pass granted by his wife on the understanding he rung regularly to tell her he was safe which only seems right. To do this he needed to charge his phone at Dalkeith where sockets were in abundance.
Next time we need to make less petty rules but give people what "they" wan't.
Oops I wasn't aware of that silly rule on recharging items. Guilty as charged.
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One of my little team charged his phones regularly. It would have been chaos though if every rider had to depend on charging phones, lights, GPS and other 'essentials'. Me, I used dynamo lamps, packed a spare fully charged phone battery in my bag drop bag and left my phone switched off most of the time to preserve the battery. Simples. The statement, IMO, should have been, "there may be sockets available at some controls for charging but no guarantees can be made" if anything was needed but I don't think it was needed actually.
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The argument(s) against officially offering sockets were (a) security (many expensive GPSes lying around), (b) mistaken identity (picking up the wrong one of many identical devices) and (c) squabbling (plugging something in and the next person just comes along and unplugs it to plug in their device, or even borrowing their charger).
By saying power sockets weren't available meant that I, along with most others, wasn't relying on using one. I had spare batteries for most things and, when my battery powered phone charger didn't work, I simply used Gerald's (ta!) although mine seemed to work enough at the end for us to both send the "finished" texts. :)
My phone would have lasted the whole way without a charge but I accidentally forgot to put it on flight mode on 3 of the legs (in remote places) which ate away at the batteries. For the next ride I'm going to get a good camera that is waterproof (Olympus MJU) so I'm more likely to take photos, and switch the phone off completely between controls.
If you'd said "power sockets are available on a limited basis" I bet you there would have been much more contention for them, and various problems arising from it.
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I'd asked this very question directly to the LEL organisers prior to the event. When I was told 'no, there will be no provision for charging devices at any control' I amended my plans accordingly.
As it goes, with judicious use of flight mode on my iPhone 3GS (ended at LV with over 40% battery life left) and using lithium batteries I actually didn't need to charge anything or change any batteries at all the entire way round. :thumbsup:
I did ask at Coxwold if I could charge my iPhone, but that was only cos I saw a cable attached to a working laptop and though I may aswell. I was allowed but the cable was evidently for an earlier version as it didn't work anyway.
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Charging is one of those situations where it's best to start from "no" and negotiate from there. It's human (FSVO in this case) nature to read "might be" as "will be", so making it [over-]clear in advance allows for places where facilities aren't available.
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Andy. There was afaik no ban. Hence nothing to enforce. Melita's statement was that facilities would not be provided. This was the only thing she could have reasonably said, as others have already tried to explain.
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Similarly the notional ban on recharging items at the controls turned out to be a nonsense
It was probably not a ban, just a warning that plug sockets might well be in short supply and occupied by kettles and microwave ovens, and definitely not something to be counted on
We could have done with a ban on supporting vehicles on the LEL route. These were a particular nuisance on the narrow roads north of Eskdalemuir. Perhaps we should suggest an alternative route for such vehicles
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Similarly the notional ban on recharging items at the controls turned out to be a nonsense
It was probably not a ban, just a warning that plug sockets might well be in short supply and occupied by kettles and microwave ovens, and definitely not something to be counted on
We could have done with a ban on supporting vehicles on the LEL route. These were a particular nuisance on the narrow roads north of Eskdalemuir. Perhaps we should suggest an alternative route for such vehicles
My understanding of an audax ride,which is what LEL is n'est pas?, is that the rider is self sufficient.This notion is completely undermined when a support vehicle is shadowing a rider.
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Similarly the notional ban on recharging items at the controls turned out to be a nonsense
It was probably not a ban, just a warning that plug sockets might well be in short supply and occupied by kettles and microwave ovens, and definitely not something to be counted on
We could have done with a ban on supporting vehicles on the LEL route. These were a particular nuisance on the narrow roads north of Eskdalemuir. Perhaps we should suggest an alternative route for such vehicles
My understanding of an audax ride,which is what LEL is n'est pas?, is that the rider is self sufficient.This notion is completely undermined when a support vehicle is shadowing a rider.
Tries to get worked up about it. Fails.
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What, no saddlebag?
I've also set my Roberts up for PBP 2011 already:
(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm30/Dyffers/Robertswithdisc.jpg)
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We could have done with a ban on supporting vehicles on the LEL route. These were a particular nuisance on the narrow roads north of Eskdalemuir. Perhaps we should suggest an alternative route for such vehicles
Support people/vehicles are allowed to meet their riders at checkpoints but not along the road. These vehicles have to get from one checkpoint to the next somehow and they already have the rider's routesheet. Following the route is an obvious thing to do. Giving mandatory alternative routes for support vehicles minimises interactions between riders and motor vehicles. This is what PBP and a couple of North American 1200s do.
Just a thought, these support vehicles along the route might be considered part of the 'informal support mechanism' to pick up distressed riders between checkpoints (to pick up a discussion in the debrief thread). Certainly they are part of the traffic hazard for riders.
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Just a thought, these support vehicles along the route might be considered part of the 'informal support mechanism' to pick up distressed riders between checkpoints (to pick up a discussion in the debrief thread). Certainly they are part of the traffic hazard for riders.
For info, virtually all the support vehicles provided services to ALL lel riders - the catalan support crew did a lot of mechanicing, the Italians were already LEL volunteers - one of them incidentally being a dr, at least three of the support crews worked at controls as volunteers and one other was known to assist riders en route when the riders were flagging by giving encouragement.
However, I was not aware until I read Mikes post that they had posed a road issue problem.
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Prior to the event I was worried about possible support vehicles clogging up the route (and posted so here). There reality for me was that there was no problem at all. In fact, the odd slow, wide overtake and cheery wave from driver/passenger was a welcome morale boost.
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My understanding of an audax ride,which is what LEL is n'est pas?, is that the rider is self sufficient.This notion is completely undermined when a support vehicle is shadowing a rider.
Or when provided with food and accommodation along the route by third parties? At many of the controls I didn't even have to buy or prepare my own food, hardly self sufficient!
I too didn't have a problem with the visible support vehicles. I clocked the Italian van overtaking me twice, couldn't have been further over the other side of the road if it tried. Same with Sandy supporting YellowVelo. I saw her at countless controls helping for hours before and after he'd been through.
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Good stuff I didn't find them a problem at all, but I guess with 1400k to go at and 500+ riders there will always be one or two probs. Clearly it doesn't matter if you are British, Italian or Cataln the urge to help is there which is why treating these people as a problem is not a good idea. That said the likes of Alston had very little parking thus as in everything balance is the key.
BTW Mel
All in all a good result don't be upset if people rake over the coals and look for obvious areas of improvement, overall you did a good job I for one wish to say thankyou. Daft as it sounds I liked the fact that it didn't run on rails as did many I spoke to. Remember she who never made a mistake never made anything.
AC
I fully agree with Andy on this - the number of "complaints" ("comments/observations?") on this and similar threads must surely represent a very small proportion of the total feelings of all the riders who participated, if you see what I mean, and in no way should be taken (and I'm sure are not intended) as a judgement that things were badly wrong.
And in any case, rather perversely and speaking as an LEL virgin, I take an extra degree of smug satisfaction from the fact that "my" LEL (as with "my 2007 PBP") seems destined to become regarded as a particularly stiff one, which will enable me to hold my head a little higher in the company of the Audax legends who've ridden these classic events many times!
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And in any case, rather perversely and speaking as an LEL virgin, I take an extra degree of smug satisfaction from the fact that "my" LEL (as with "my 2007 PBP") seems destined to become regarded as a particularly stiff one, which will enable me to hold my head a little higher in the company of the Audax legends who've ridden these classic events many times!
Careful...As I understand it, previous LELs were lumpier, longer and with less cosy controls. No rugby club in Dalkeith with a bag drop, showers and food but a 24 hour petrol station in Edinburgh itself.
I'll let people know what rides I'm doing next year so that people can avoid them. I seem to be a magnet for crap weather (The Dean, Elenith - not too bad, Bryan Chapman, LEL).
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Good stuff I didn't find them a problem at all, but I guess with 1400k to go at and 500+ riders there will always be one or two probs. Clearly it doesn't matter if you are British, Italian or Cataln the urge to help is there which is why treating these people as a problem is not a good idea. That said the likes of Alston had very little parking thus as in everything balance is the key.
BTW Mel
All in all a good result don't be upset if people rake over the coals and look for obvious areas of improvement, overall you did a good job I for one wish to say thankyou. Daft as it sounds I liked the fact that it didn't run on rails as did many I spoke to. Remember she who never made a mistake never made anything.
AC
I fully agree with Andy on this - the number of "complaints" ("comments/observations?") on this and similar threads must surely represent a very small proportion of the total feelings of all the riders who participated, if you see what I mean, and in no way should be taken (and I'm sure are not intended) as a judgement that things were badly wrong.
And in any case, rather perversely and speaking as an LEL virgin, I take an extra degree of smug satisfaction from the fact that "my" LEL (as with "my 2007 PBP") seems destined to become regarded as a particularly stiff one, which will enable me to hold my head a little higher in the company of the Audax legends who've ridden these classic events many times!
+1 here.
My first LEL and from my perspective, it went very well, despite all the hand-wringing and fretting beforehand on here and elsewhere
You also got the impression that controllers, organisers and their teams were working bloody hard to make sure it went very well.
My thanks and grattitude to them for their support and efforts.
H
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And in any case, rather perversely and speaking as an LEL virgin, I take an extra degree of smug satisfaction from the fact that "my" LEL (as with "my 2007 PBP") seems destined to become regarded as a particularly stiff one, which will enable me to hold my head a little higher in the company of the Audax legends who've ridden these classic events many times!
Careful...As I understand it, previous LELs were lumpier, longer and with less cosy controls. No rugby club in Dalkeith with a bag drop, showers and food but a 24 hour petrol station in Edinburgh itself.
Pooh. Another illusion shattered. Now what do I do!
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And in any case, rather perversely and speaking as an LEL virgin, I take an extra degree of smug satisfaction from the fact that "my" LEL (as with "my 2007 PBP") seems destined to become regarded as a particularly stiff one, which will enable me to hold my head a little higher in the company of the Audax legends who've ridden these classic events many times!
Careful...As I understand it, previous LELs were lumpier, longer and with less cosy controls. No rugby club in Dalkeith with a bag drop, showers and food but a 24 hour petrol station in Edinburgh itself.
Pooh. Another illusion shattered. Now what do I do!
Ride it unsupported without bagdrops?
Yes some were on uber bling bikes with zero luggage but others were completely self sufficient, equipped as for a camping trip!
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And in any case, rather perversely and speaking as an LEL virgin, I take an extra degree of smug satisfaction from the fact that "my" LEL (as with "my 2007 PBP") seems destined to become regarded as a particularly stiff one, which will enable me to hold my head a little higher in the company of the Audax legends who've ridden these classic events many times!
Careful...As I understand it, previous LELs were lumpier, longer and with less cosy controls. No rugby club in Dalkeith with a bag drop, showers and food but a 24 hour petrol station in Edinburgh itself.
The first couple of LELs were 1300 km, so noticeably shorter...
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All in all a good result don't be upset if people rake over the coals and look for obvious areas of improvement, overall you did a good job I for one wish to say thankyou. Daft as it sounds I liked the fact that it didn't run on rails as did many I spoke to. Remember she who never made a mistake never made anything.
AC
I fully agree with Andy on this - the number of "complaints" ("comments/observations?") on this and similar threads must surely represent a very small proportion of the total feelings of all the riders who participated, if you see what I mean, and in no way should be taken (and I'm sure are not intended) as a judgement that things were badly wrong.
Clearly things were not "badly wrong". The organiser is hardly responsible for the weather, and all of the controls did what was required in the circumstances. I'm not aware of any participant not getting what they expected. But there are always lessons to be learnt from experience, which I was hoping would come from the debrief thread I initiated. It is most unfortunate that the discussion has centered on how people deal with weather conditions, which is in no way specific to LEL. That discussion is just as relevant for BCM, Elenith and others.
I hope we are not sending out the wrong messages to potential UK or overseas entrants of our events.
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I hope so too phil. Everyone survived, the mechanisms in place worked. Let's not lose sight of that.
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Time in hand graph:-
(http://www.greenbank.org/misc/lel_time_in_hand.jpg)
Slight oddity coming towards Thorne as the GPS ran out of batteries and with 20km to go I couldn't be bothered to stop and change the batteries, that's why the graph slopes slightly downwards at 1100km. The next time the GPS was turned on was after I'd stopped for 3 hours and moved 20km further on.
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*hand in the air*
do me! do me!
Once I have the gpx file I'll email it.
:)
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Yup, no problem.
Still editing/fiddling with my LEL ride report, will post it some time at the weekend as it's still all sinking in.
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Still editing/fiddling with my LEL ride report, will post it some time at the weekend as it's still all sinking in.
Or leeching away. Haven't the Audax Men in Black been yet and zapped you? We'll be able to tell you know - phrases like "We crossed Yad Moss in a sea of wild flowers glistening in morning sunshine" will be a dead giveaway :).
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Time in hand graph:-
Let's try this ...
(http://www.middlefur.plus.com/MattC_TimeInHand.JPG)
Based on a lot less data points than the GPS boys, but still a pretty good picture of what I got upto. You can see the wheels falling off the wagon during Thursday.
And yes, I did waste 11hrs at the B&B Monday night - they had good beer!
The whole spreadsheet - hours of fun for all the family:
http://www.middlefur.plus.com/LEL%20Strategy%20Sheet.xls
And similar from PBP 07 (less detailed, but with other ACF riders on it):
http://www.middlefur.plus.com/Anal_for_review.xls
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I was about to post a "How on earth did you get to have 8 hours in hand after just 200km?" reply - but then I remembered the lower minimum speed. It makes a big difference doesn't it?
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I was about to post a "How on earth did you get to have 8 hours in hand after just 200km?" reply - but then I remembered the lower minimum speed. It makes a big difference doesn't it?
Yep - and pushing on the first day to enable a sleep stop at Washingborough. Was about 26kph rolling speed.
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I was about to post a "How on earth did you get to have 8 hours in hand after just 200km?" reply - but then I remembered the lower minimum speed. It makes a big difference doesn't it?
A tailwind helps too.
According to my GPS log these were the times for the first x00km:-
100km: 4h10
200km: 9h16
300km: 14h52
400km: 25h14 (included 6 hours off the bike at Thorne)
600km: 39h34
That's my fastest ever 100, 200, 300 and 400. :)
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Did the American girl Michelle Dulieu arrive safely at LV?
Yes.
Spent much time chatting in Friday's small hours.
She was due to stay with her grandmother somewhere in London.
Friday's train strike and general exhaustion meant she decided to stay at LV on Friday.
I suggested she use LV's laundry facilities to pass the time.
At the end of the afternoon(friday) she could get a ride to her grandmother's, from what I understood. I still find it strange that an extra 15km to her grandmother's was too much to cycle...
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To me that's just hideous.
Oh I dunno. I do like to see a bit of rust on a bike. I get this warm glow come over me :)
Does anybody know his real name? Contact email?
I will ask him when I see him again. I ride a recumbent and left Coxwold together with him on the way back, but left him behind on the steep hills that immediately followed. In Lee Valley I had a bit more of a chat with him. He's going to the European recumbent championship this weekend in Leer, Germany. That's only 40km from where he lives, and 140km from where I live. But since it's going to hit 30°C here today I will only go there tonight, when it might cool down a bit. I miss the British weather...
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To me that's just hideous.
Oh I dunno. I do like to see a bit of rust on a bike. I get this warm glow come over me :)
Does anybody know his real name? Contact email?
I will ask him when I see him again. I ride a recumbent and left Coxwold together with him on the way back, but left him behind on the steep hills that immediately followed. In Lee Valley I had a bit more of a chat with him. He's going to the European recumbent championship this weekend in Leer, Germany. That's only 40km from where he lives, and 140km from where I live. But since it's going to hit 30°C here today I will only go there tonight, when it might cool down a bit. I miss the British weather...
Well thanks very much for the that arvid, I'd be interested in getting in touch with him. [And what about the Belgium who rode the Raptobike, according to ChrisN, anybody know who he was?]
What bike did you ride yourself arvid? You're not Mr 'Effendi' are you?
Oh, and welcome to the forum :)
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Well thanks very much for the that arvid, I'd be interested in getting in touch with him. [And what about the Belgium who rode the Raptobike, according to ChrisN, anybody know who he was?]
What bike did you ride yourself arvid? You're not Mr 'Effendi' are you?
Oh, and welcome to the forum :)
I'll put an alarm and leave somewhere in the dark this night, still >25°C here....
I don't know any Belgian recumbent riders participating. I know Björn Willemsen was riding a Raptobike, but he's Dutch. What's Mr "Effendi"?
I ride this http://arvid.org/temp/RES01080.JPG
A black Challenge Furai with 559 (26") wheels. Rohloff, SON and Edelux. Lights always on.
In the quartet: does anyone know the name of the former Jethro Tull member that rode? I met him on monday morning in the dark between Thorne and Coxwold.
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In the quartet: does anyone know the name of the former Jethro Tull member that rode? I met him on monday morning in the dark between Thorne and Coxwold.
That'll be John Evans.
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Er, John Evan, surely?
*Living in the past* ;D
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That's even more impressive then having a Giro rider on the start list!
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Yes, it is very very cool indeed. I'm impressed.
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I wondered where John had got to - he usually calls in a couple of times in July on a Perm. 600 or 1000 and I sign his card. It's easy to tell if he's out- or inward bound when he walks down the path.
I probably won't see him this year then - doubt if he'll be doing another long 'un.
BTW, there used to be a member of the Hollies in the village and John knows him. I wanted to get both of them together in the pub, then sit and listen, but never managed to do it.
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Does anybody know his real name? Contact email?
You probably speak about the guy who made this site:
Das Liegerad - Home (http://www.dasliegerad.de/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/)
All the contact information can be found there.
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What's Mr "Effendi"?
Effendi (http://www.effendibikes.de) bikes are made by Jens ....... & Bjohn ........., and very nice workmanship they show too. I'm pretty sure Bjohn was riding this bike (http://www.effendibikes.de/mediac/400_0/media/b4.JPG).
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I don't know any Belgian recumbent riders participating. I know Björn Willemsen was riding a Raptobike, but he's Dutch.
Ok, Dutch. I should have realised from his jersey. Sorry!
In the quartet: does anyone know the name of the former Jethro Tull member that rode? I met him on monday morning in the dark between Thorne and Coxwold.
That'll be John Evans.
Paul D and I had breakfast with him on Friday - very nice chap indeed.
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Does anybody know his real name? Contact email?
You probably speak about the guy who made this site:
Das Liegerad - Home (http://www.dasliegerad.de/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/)
That's our man, Jedrik, ta very much.
And his name: Joachim Janssen :)
And a whole shed load of photos (http://www.dasliegerad.de/content/view/157/34/) he took too. Surprised he had the time to do any cycling!
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I wondered where John had got to - he usually calls in a couple of times in July on a Perm. 600 or 1000 and I sign his card. It's easy to tell if he's out- or inward bound when he walks down the path.
I probably won't see him this year then - doubt if he'll be doing another long 'un.
He came over in May and did the Chapman and the Midhurst 6. I think he did the Goldrush 1200 before coming back here for LEL.
When I rode with him on Sunday he was making noises about giving it all up. Let's hope this isn't the case.
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What's Mr "Effendi"?
Effendi (http://www.effendibikes.de) bikes are made by Jens ....... & Bjohn ........., and very nice workmanship they show too. I'm pretty sure Bjohn was riding this bike (http://www.effendibikes.de/mediac/400_0/media/b4.JPG).
Yep, that's the one. First "conventional" recumbent back, IIRC.
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During LEL I had thought (fantasised would be a bit strong) about lots of food and made a mental note of what I'd thought about.
Tonight I reach the end of the realiasation having had a week of Thai, Tapas, a monster (GBK) burger, a hot curry (Bombay Bicycle Club naturally) and finally a chicken kiev (no idea where that came from).
Back to normal regime/diet1 from tomorrow.
It's been a lovely week of guilt free gluttony.
1. Diet as in "what I normally eat" not diet in the restrictive sense.
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Greenbank very kindly ran his script on my huge gpx file:
(http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.proven/out_simon.png)
I said I was going to bounce Gamlingay didn't I. :)
A few things I note from this graph:
1) I was never under time pressure at any point. This was nice, given my relative lack of miles. My training plan worked, as did my ride plan, after a fashion (it predicted a similar riding speed, but less time at controls). As there was a large margin for error, it didn't really matter. I got a long break every night. On the last night, I got to sleep twice.
2) See how I have about 200 minutes in hand when I cross the 1200km mark? At the same speed on PBP, I'd have been OOT by 7h. LEL is much easier than PBP in my book for this reason alone. Given I rode PBP and LEL at around the same riding speed (0.3kph faster on LEL) at my current level of fitness, I would need to give up a lot of sleep time in order to complete PBP again. I think I need to get faster before I can contemplate PBP again. I just don't like being that sleep deprived. I suppose the difference is with the 9pm start I'd be riding through the night, whereas I managed to burn over 5h at Washingborough on the way out (but probably needed it because I'd not had enough sleep in the lead up to LEL).
I wish I'd set up my gps unit to record to the SD card on PBP, a similar analysis of that track log would have made an interesting comparison.
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I suppose the difference is with the 9pm start I'd be riding through the night,
choose the 5am start on PBP.
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I suppose the difference is with the 9pm start I'd be riding through the night,
choose the 5am start on PBP.
Maybe it would make more sense. I've got a while to think about it (and plenty time to work on fitness, as long as my knee keeps behaving itself).
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I suppose the difference is with the 9pm start I'd be riding through the night,
choose the 5am start on PBP.
= 84 hr limit, so need to ride faster.
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I suppose the difference is with the 9pm start I'd be riding through the night,
choose the 5am start on PBP.
= 84 hr limit, so need to ride faster.
He has the ability to be fast enough for that
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I suppose the difference is with the 9pm start I'd be riding through the night,
choose the 5am start on PBP.
= 84 hr limit, so need to ride faster.
Not very much faster. With the much smaller numbers on the 84-hour start, there are smaller no queues for stamping and food until you start catching up with the back of the 90-hour group. Loudeac was the first place I queued, and that wasn't long. I reckon my faster time in 2007 compared with 1991, 1995 & 2003 was largely accounted for by (a) less time lost queuing and (b) 3 nights on the road rather than 4.
But if it becomes too popular, this advantage will be lost, so please take no notice of me.
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That's our man, Jedrik, ta very much.
And his name: Joachim Janssen :)
And a whole shed load of photos (http://www.dasliegerad.de/content/view/157/34/) he took too. Surprised he had the time to do any cycling!
Hi Guys, i heard from Jedrik you talk about me :)
Now you know my nick in this forum.
It's very easy to make photos while driving my bike, because the device lie everytime on my waist.
regards JJ